Won't you try some of this lovely lemonade?

Where have I been? Well, among other things, I was getting shot up with iopromide and drinking a lovely lemon-flavored mixture of 2% barium sulfate. (If I hadn't sick already, that concoction would certainly have done the job). While barium is a toxic metal (atomic number 56, which makes it perfect for CT scans because it readily absorbs X-rays), barium sulfate has a very low aqueous solubility and is quickly flushed out of the body, thus preventing any extremely bad side effects. (On a sidenote, barium carbonate, which is soluble in stomach acid, is toxic and used as a rat poison). When I mentioned to the CT technician that I am a chemist, he was super nice and even showed me the drug data sheet on iopromide (which even had a structure!), so I could get a glimpse of the lovely iodinated compound that would soon be running through my body. As far as I can tell, iopromide was developed in the early 1980s and is one of the safest nonionic contrast agents out there. Nonetheless, it is necessary to sign an "informed consent" form before the drug can be administered. With an iodine content of almost 50%, iopromide is able to enhance the visibility of organs and blood vessels during radiographic procedures. Once it is injected, it feels like you are on fire and you get a yucky taste in your mouth, similar to the one you had in 1st grade when you licked the flagpole :o)