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Constipation treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

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Talk to a doctor about Constipation treatment online

See a doctor or nurse practitioner today to get a new prescription or refill, at their discretion.

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After your consultation, if you have received a medical diagnosis and prescription for a medication, your prescription can be faxed to the pharmacy of your choice for pick-up or delivered to your home.

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Get your medications delivered to your door anywhere in Canada within 1-3 business days.

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Our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners is here for you.

Eric Fonberg

Family & ER Physician

Dr. Fonberg, a family and emergency physician with over 30 years of experience, holds an MD from Western University and an MPH from Harvard. He has practiced in various urban and rural settings across Ontario and Canada's Arctic, serving as Chief of Emergency Medicine and Chief of Staff in Toronto hospitals. He lectures at the University of Toronto.

Golbarg Araghi

Family Physician

Dr. Araghi has been practicing medicine for 17 years. She graduated from McGill University medical school in 2002 and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Toronto. She did a fellowship in low risk obstetrics shortly after graduating. She has been practicing since 2004 and has provided care for patients of all ages.

Jonathan Clayton

Family Physician

Dr. Clayton practices family medicine in urban and rural areas, emergency care, and hospital care in New Brunswick. He is also an expedition physician. Dr. Clayton holds a Bachelor of Science with distinction from the University of New Brunswick and a Doctor of Medicine from Memorial University, where he made the Dean's list.

Paul Cusack

Family Physician

Dr. Cusack has been practicing Family Medicine in Charlottetown for the past 15 years. He also works in a busy walk-in clinic two days a week and heads up to the Surgical Assist group at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

Michael Verbora

Médecin de famille

Dr. Verbora practices family medicine in Toronto, specializing in student health. He holds a BSc from the University of Windsor, an MBA from Odette School of Business, and an MD from the University of Western Ontario. He completed specialty training at Toronto Western Hospital and served as OCFP Chair of the Residents Committee.

Joe Fragapane

Family & ER Physician

Dr. Fragapane practices Emergency and Family medicine for the Cree Nation in James Bay, Quebec, focusing on rural emergency care and pediatrics. He handles complex medical and psychosocial issues in isolated regions. Certified in advanced life support and interested in AI, he teaches at McGill and UQAT. He graduated from McGill in 2012 and 2005.

Mazin Yousif

Family Physician

Dr. Yousif completed medical school in Baghdad, Iraq in 1998. He practiced until 2005 then moved to Canada where he has practiced in Newfoundland from 2007-2009 then Ontario from 2009 until now.

Why Canadians love Maple

A fantastic way to get medical advice when you are unable to see someone in person. The app is so simple to use. Highly recommend. I am not a tech savvy person but the doctor was kind enough to patiently walk me through every step of the process. Thank you.
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Frequently asked questions

Maple 101

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Pricing and Payment

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

  • Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
  • Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
  • Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
  • Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
  • iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
  • Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
  • Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
  • Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

Security and Privacy

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

About Constipation

Yes. In most cases, a doctor from Maple can diagnose constipation by asking about your symptoms and the frequency of your bowel movements. Once they have made a diagnosis, your doctor will make recommendations for management of constipation.

If the doctor suspects that your constipation is a symptom of a more serious problem, they may suggest that you go to a clinic for thorough physical examination.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Constipation is categorized as an inability to have or difficulty in having a bowel movement. Typically, the average person will have between three a day and three per week, depending on their age, diet, daily activity and digestive health.

Occasional constipation in adults is normal, and constipation in kids is very common, especially when their bodies are adjusting to digesting new foods.

However, chronic bouts of constipation could be a symptom of a more serious condition. Treatment for chronic constipation will depend on what your doctor believes to be the underlying cause.

Common constipation symptoms include:

  • Hard or lumpy stools
  • Feeling as though there is a blockage in the rectum or colon
  • Being unable to completely empty the rectum, or feeling as though there is more stool that won’t come out
  • Needing to press on your abdomen or requiring additional assistance in order to have a bowel movement
  • Having fewer than three bowel movements in a week
  • Staining or pushing hard in order to have a bowel movement

The most frequent constipation causes are not drinking enough water (dehydration) and not including enough fibre in your diet. Not getting enough exercise, as well as holding back the urge to have a bowel movement for too long are also commonly recognized causes of constipation.

Some medications also cause constipation, such as:

  • Narcotics
  • Iron supplements
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Antidepressants
  • Medications to help prevent seizures
  • Diuretics
  • Antacids

Constipation is usually treated through a combination of adjustments to daily lifestyle habits, diet and constipation medicine, also known as laxatives.

Several types of laxatives exist, which all function in different ways. Some are available over the counter, while others are a prescription medication.

A doctor from Maple will make recommendations to use treatment methods and medications they believe will best treat your constipation. If you frequently experience constipation, they may offer some suggestions to help assist with constipation prevention.

In most cases, constipation can be treated with changes to daily routines, diet and laxatives. However, occasionally, it can become more severe and require immediate emergency medical attention.

In addition to constipation, if you begin to experience severe bloating, uncontrollable vomiting, intense or long-lasting abdominal pain or find blood in your stool you should seek immediate medical attention.

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Maple is safe and effective for common non-emergency issues. If you believe you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.