<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Interesting replies: It seems the consensus that the barium solution used in the radiology units is NOT GF. Others received the same runaround from unknowledgeable healthcare personnel that I received, i.e., "Of course it doesn't contain gluten . . ." or "It's not enough gluten to cause a problem . . . etc!" Apparently one manufacturer can formulate a gluten free barium solution. Most of those who had taken the barium felt various discomforts. I would say from the following that one should challenge the radiology/doctor handling the exam to get a solution that is specifically GF. I neglected to get the brand name and manufacturer of the barium solution I was given. I will attempt to do so and then will track down the manufacturer for their statement as to its GF status. Thanks for all the responses! Leif 1. Hi There - I had a CAT scan several months ago and had to drink a barium solution. I had been told that there were traces of gluten in the solution (but not enough to do any real harm....ha, ha). I didn't want to drink it, but really needed the test. My GI doctor told me to just drink it and not worry about it! After all of the lectures I've gotten to ask questions and be SO careful and then he says "it's not enough gluten to cause a real problem". That wasn't very comforting and I haven't been back to him since that time! I called the 800 number on the barium and they weren't real helpful either because they can't tell you whether or not their suppliers add gluten to their ingredients. I know this doesn't help much, especially after the fact, but I was a little disturbed about the whole barium thing so I thought I'd vent! 2. ALL barium has gluten in it. I didn't take it when I had a ct scan nor the IV contrast solution. I knew from experience that even GastroView makes celiacs sick. They can do it without it, if they make you drink 24 oz of water. I would have made them call the company that makes the barium before. It sets you off for a long time. 3. There has been talk about this before on the board and it is my understanding that it is NOT gf. People who do x ray have no knowledge of gf anything and will tell you anything to have you do the tests! I found out AFTER my tests that the barium was definitely NOT gf. There is a gf kind, but most xray people do not like it, because it does not show up the images as well. Something people have put on here, is the fact that drinking a lot of water can take the place of the barium sometimes. The gf barium has to be special ordered and costs more, so most radiology departments do not want to be bothered. Even docs who are SUPPOSED to know will tell you the barium is gf. It isn't! My gastro. said it was gf and he was VERY wrong! I was plugged up for days because he wasn't correct! I only found out through this lsitserv that it is NOT gf. If I ever have to do these tests again I will insist on the gf kind even if they don't like it! I just will not put anything in my mouth any more that is not gf. If that means not doing the tests because of that, so be it! lol 4. I had an upper G.I. several months ago and was deathly ill for about a week afterwards. I suffered from terrible stomach pains, etc. I DON'T believe that barium, which was also flavored, was GF even though the Radiology Dept. said that it was. NEVER AGAIN! 5. After my upper GI series it took a couple of days to get all of the barium solution out. I don't think my upset stomach was gluten related, just the unusual load of the barium junk. 6. I called the company and the barium is not gluten free according to the man I spoke with. I had to have the cat scan without contrast. The gluten gets in with the flavoring 7. I actually have some experience with this since I had to have an upper GI. When I called the companies that make this product they told me that the couldn't state that their products were safe for celiacs. When I did a search on the archives there were several messages from people who said that they reacted to barium used in radiology departments. The solution is to contact Stokes pharmacy who can make a gluten-free barium that we can use. It actually wasn't bad. Tastes like chalk. 8. From this list I've learned that there is NO gluten free barium in this country. The G.I. department does not know or much care what barium is. If it doesn;t say barium on the label they think it's okay. So, refuse to take barium, period. Likewise refuse contrast dyes and iodine. If you are a patient in a hospital you will pay extra for a gluten free diet only to find out that the dietitician does not know (or much care) what a gluten free diet is. So you will pay extra to have your gluten free meals brought from home. 9. Sorry, I can't answer your question, but I'd be interested in the answers. I had an upper GI xray just before my diagnosis in Oct. I was in pain for 24 hours afterward. 10. I had an upper GI series ordered and told my doc that as soon as he came up with a GF cocktail, I would go for it. The radiology dept. at the hospital where he practices could not find a GF solution. I called the Stokes Pharmacy and they said that they could formulate what was needed. I then called the radiology dept. and they said that they had to go through Purchasing. I'm still waiting to hear what is going on. I will not take the test unless I know in advance that it is with a GF cocktail.