Addiction Medicine

CIWA-Ar (Alcohol Withdrawal)

Severity of alcohol withdrawal.

Education and reference only. Not a substitute for clinical judgement, local policy or product labelling. Always verify before clinical use. Values are calculated in your browser and never stored.

When to use

Use to assess and monitor the severity of alcohol withdrawal and to guide symptom-triggered benzodiazepine treatment.

Why use

It standardises withdrawal assessment and supports symptom-triggered dosing, reducing over- and under-treatment.

Advice

Many protocols give benzodiazepines for scores ≥8–10 and reassess regularly. Severe scores (>20) carry a higher risk of seizures and delirium tremens — escalate care.

Evidence & references

  1. Sullivan JT et al. Assessment of alcohol withdrawal: the revised CIWA-Ar. Br J Addict. 1989.

Related calculators

AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use)Screen for hazardous drinking.CAGE QuestionnaireBrief screen for problem drinking.

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