CIWA-Ar
Medical abbreviation · Patient Assessment
| Stands for | Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
CIWA-Ar stands for Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised, a patient assessment abbreviation.
Ten-item scale scoring alcohol withdrawal signs such as tremor, sweating, anxiety, agitation, nausea, hallucinations and headache, with a maximum of 67. Scores guide symptom-triggered benzodiazepine dosing.
Example: CIWA-Ar 18: tremulous, diaphoretic, anxious; lorazepam 2 mg given per protocol.
Usage notes
Published by John Sullivan and colleagues in 1989. Commonly, scores under 8 to 10 indicate mild withdrawal and above 15 severe withdrawal, though cutoffs vary by protocol. The scale relies on patient answers, so it is not reliable in sedated or nonverbal patients.
Related abbreviations
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- CAM-ICU – Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit
- CMS – Circulation, motion, sensation
- COWS – Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale
- CPOT – Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool
- CRT – Capillary refill time
- CTA – Clear to auscultation
- CTAB – Clear to auscultation bilaterally
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.