Compositions of iodophenyl esters and iodophenyl sulfonates and pharmaceutically acceptable clays for visualization of the gastrointestinal tract

A method of carrying out x-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, said method comprises the oral or rectal administration to the patient an x-ray contrast composition comprising:

• (a) from about 5 to 45% of an x-ray contrast producing agent having the formula, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof ##STR24## wherein X is ##STR25## or --SO.sub.2 --;
• Z is H, halo, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkoxy, cyano, where the alkyl and cycloalkyl groups can be substituted with halogen or halo-lower-alkyl groups;
• R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl each of which may be optionally substituted with halo, fluoro-lower-alkyl, lower-alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy or lower-alkoxy carbonyl;
• lower-alkenyl, lower-alkynyl, lower-alkylene or lower-alkoxy-carbonyloxy;
• n is 1-5;
• y is 0-4;
• and
• w is 1-4;
• (b) from about 0.1 to 10% of a pharmaceutically acceptable clay selected from the group consisting of:
• montmorillonite, beidelite, nontronite, hectorite and saponite;
• (c) from about 1.0 to 20% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic, anionic, cationic and zwitterionic surfactants;
• (d) from about 0.0 to 15% of an excipient;
• and
• (e) water to make 100% by volume.