SOWS (Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale, Handelsman)
Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (Handelsman 1987): the PATIENT rates sixteen withdrawal symptoms from "not at all" to "extremely", 0-4 each, for a total of 0-64.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Anxiety
- 3
- Yawning
- 2
- Perspiring
- 2
- Teary eyes
- 2
- Runny nose
- 2
- Goosebumps
- 1
- Shaking
- 1
- Hot flushes
- 1
- Cold flushes
- 1
- Bone and muscle aches
- 3
The other 6 values
- Restlessness
- 3
- Nausea
- 2
- Feeling like vomiting
- 1
- Muscle twitching
- 1
- Stomach cramps
- 2
- Craving to use now
- 3
Result: SOWS (subjective, Handelsman 1987) 30 of 64.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What you enter
- Anxiety
- Yawning
- Perspiring
- Teary eyes
- Runny nose
- Goosebumps
- Shaking
- Hot flushes
- Cold flushes
- Bone and muscle aches
The other 6 fields
- Restlessness
- Nausea
- Feeling like vomiting
- Muscle twitching
- Stomach cramps
- Craving to use now
How this is calculated
Handelsman L, Cochrane KJ, Aronson MJ, Ness R, Rubinstein KJ, Kanof PD. Two new rating scales for opiate withdrawal. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1987;13(3):293-308. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.