Barium sulphate (various) Oral liquids: Hospital supply issue

Affected product

There is constrained supply of the following barium sulphate products:

Brand: Varibar - Honey

• Presentation: Oral liq 400 mg per ml (40% w/v), bottle
• Pharmacode: 2469154
• Price: $189.15
• Measure / Qty: per 250 ml

Brand: Varibar - Thin Liquid

• Presentation: Oral liq 400 mg per ml (40% w/v, 30% w/w), bottle
• Pharmacode: 2469170
• Price: $17.39
• Measure / Qty: per 148 g

Brand: Tagitol V

• Presentation: Oral liq 400 mg per ml (40% w/v, 30% w/w), 20 ml bottle
• Pharmacode: 2469138
• Price: $52.35
• Measure / Qty: per 3

Brand: Readi-CAT 2

• Presentation: Oral liq 20.9 mg per ml (2.1% w/v, 2% w/w), 450 ml bottle
• Pharmacode: 2683067
• Price: $97.50
• Measure / Qty: per 12

Brand: Vanilla SilQ MD

• Presentation: Grans for oral liq 960 mg per g (96% w/w), 176 g bottle
• Pharmacode: 2665913 
• Price: $530.00
• Measure / Qty: per 24

Brand: Vanilla SilQ HD

• Presentation: Grans for oral liq 980 mg per g (98% w/w), 310 g bottle
• Pharmacode: 2665921
• Price: $490.00
• Measure / Qty: per 24

Alternative products

Other barium oral liquids remain available. 

HML listing for Varibar liquids(external link)

Expected resupply

We are working with suppliers to understand when supply will return to normal levels.

Vanilla SilQ MD and HD have arrived but remain in limited supply until early 2026

Who to contact

If you have questions about this issue, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.

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Pharmac is a government agency. We do not sell medicines or related products.