What it means
The revised version, CIWA-Ar, scores ten items: nausea and vomiting, tremor, sweating, anxiety, agitation, itching or crawling feelings, changes in hearing, changes in sight (including seeing things), headache, and orientation. A higher total means more severe withdrawal. Many hospitals give benzodiazepines based on the score, which is called symptom-triggered dosing.
For the nurse
Score the client at the times the protocol sets and give medicine by the protocol's score ranges. The client must be able to answer questions; a client who is too drowsy or confused to answer needs a different assessment and a call to the provider.
At a glance
| Also written | CIWA-Ar, Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol |
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Related terms
benzodiazepine
A group of calming drugs that slow brain activity, used for anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal and sedation.
withdrawal
The physical and mental symptoms that occur when a person stops or cuts down a substance the body has come to depend on.
delirium tremens
The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal, with sudden confusion and overactivity of the nervous system.
chlordiazepoxide
A long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety and for alcohol withdrawal.