AKA: CIWA
A scoring system that tracks the severity of alcohol withdrawal.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Used to safely manage withdrawal and prevent complications like seizures and delirium tremens.
What to know:
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High CIWA scores mean the person may need more intensive monitoring and medication.
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Vital signs and symptoms like tremors, agitation, and hallucinations are part of the score.
Example:
In detox, staff use CIWA scores to decide when to give another benzodiazepine dose for alcohol withdrawal.