COWS
Also written as: COWS — Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale
Standardized scale for assessing opioid withdrawal severity to guide treatment decisions.
Full Definition
The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale is an 11-item assessment tool designed to measure the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms. The scale evaluates resting pulse rate, sweating, restlessness, pupil size, bone or joint aches, runny nose or tearing, GI upset, tremor, yawning, anxiety/irritability, and gooseflesh skin. Total scores range from 0-48, with categories for mild (12 or less), moderate (13-24), moderately severe (25-36), and severe (more than 36) withdrawal. COWS is used to determine appropriate medication dosing during detoxification and to monitor withdrawal progress objectively.
Usage
Usage note: All caps as acronym; distinguish from CIWA-Ar which is for alcohol withdrawal.
In Context
- "The patient's COWS score decreased from 28 to 12 over the first 48 hours of treatment." — Medical detox progress note
- "Nurses documented COWS assessments every four hours during the acute withdrawal phase." — Clinical protocol documentation