Skip to chat with us. Skip to content

Cough treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Skip the waiting room! Instantly connect with Canadian doctors for medical care from your phone, tablet or computer - any time, 24/7.

  • Prescriptions available at a provider's discretion
  • Speak to a doctor or nurse practitioner
  • 24/7 availability
  • Get connected in minutes

Trusted by millions of Canadians

  • 4.8 rating30K+ App Store reviews
  • 4.6 score5K+ Trustpilot reviews

Talk to a doctor about Cough treatment online

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

icon-prescription

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.

icon-pill

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

icon-first-aid

Maple members get 24/7 access to primary care online and more. Our doctors and nurse practitioners are available to see you in minutes, anytime.

See a provider in three easy steps.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
Get started now

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

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. She is a great addition to our team!

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.
—Google Play Store

Saved me hours waiting in the ER.
—Vanessa, Trustpilot

Fast and effective tool for getting a diagnosis and prescription.
—Katie, Google Reviews

The doctor willingly took the time to explain things to me.
—Diana, Google Reviews

Very easy to book a therapist and get appointment receipts.
—Heather, Trustpilot

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 Cough

Yes, you can. The doctor will want to discuss your current condition, how long you’ve been experiencing a cough, and any other symptoms you may have alongside your cough.

When over-the-counter cough treatments aren’t helping, the doctor may suggest a physical examination to help narrow down the underlying cause of your cough.

In some cases, the doctor may also suggest additional testing be done, in order to provide you with a clear cough diagnosis.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe cough medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for your cough, 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.

Coughing is your body’s way of reacting when something is irritating your throat or airways. Occasional coughs are normal, and a healthy way for the body to clear irritants and secretions from your lungs.
Coughing is your body’s reflex to stimuli (mechanical or chemical) in your upper and lower airways, pericardium, diaphragm, or stomach. Mechanical receptors are triggered by touch or displacement. Chemical receptors react to hot or cold acids, capsaicin-like compounds, and certain other chemicals.

Often, coughs are signs or symptoms of other underlying conditions. Everyone will experience a cough at some point in their lives, and many conditions that cause coughs will pass on their own.

If a cough becomes severe, lasts for more than two weeks, or brings up bloody or discolored mucus, it could be an indication of a more serious underlying condition.

Chronic coughs are considered any cough that lasts for eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children.

Coughs are signs or symptoms of other underlying conditions, so they can be an indicator for a wide range of conditions. However, there are other symptoms that regularly accompany coughing. Some of these include:

  • Sinus congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Coughing up clear, white, yellow, or green mucus
  • Headache
  • Chest soreness
  • Frequently clearing throat
  • Heartburn
  • Sour taste in the mouth
  • Hoarseness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Feeling liquid running down the back of the throat (also called postnasal drip)

In rare cases, this could also result in coughing up blood. This would be an indication of a potentially serious underlying condition. If this occurs, you should seek medical attention.

Frequently, coughs are signs or symptoms of other underlying conditions. There are many different types of conditions that can cause a cough, such as:

  • Infections (colds and flus)
  • Asthma
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Postnasal drip
  • Allergies
  • Non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (inflammation in the airways, not caused by asthma)
  • Lung cancer
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Irritants in the air (chemical or cosmetic)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Medications (ACE inhibitors)

In most cases, the doctor will be able to offer a cough diagnosis by discussing your condition, your symptoms, and doing a physical exam.

In some cases, the doctor may suggest additional testing be done in order to provide a clear diagnosis for your cough.

This could include imaging tests like chest X-rays or CT scans, or tests to check your lungs’ functionality.

Rarely, when the doctor is unable to determine the underlying cause of your cough, they may suggest a bronchoscopy or rhinoscopy for further evaluation.

There are a number of home self-care remedies you can try to help reduce your cough symptoms. These are helpful if you believe your cough is caused by a condition that will pass on its own (cough, flu, etc.)

Some of these self-care cough treatments include:

  • Taking a teaspoon of honey (may help loosen mucus to be coughed up, thus helping to clear airways)
  • Sucking on cough drops or hard candies to soothe sore throats or dry coughs
  • Drinking lots of fluids (helps to thin mucus in the throat)
  • Use a humidifier or take a steamy shower to moisturize the air
  • Avoid irritants (like tobacco smoke or known allergens)
  • Avoid foods that increase reflux (colas, red wine, acidic drinks, chocolate, and fatty foods)
  • Avoid eating three hours prior to lying down
    Elevate the head of the bed six to eight inches

It’s a good idea to try self-care home remedies if your cough is new, mild, or believed to be caused by a condition that will pass on its own (cold or flu).

However, if your cough has become persistent, severe or is worsening, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor.

The doctor will be able to recommend testing that will provide you with a clear cough diagnosis. As well, the doctor can recommend appropriate cough treatments to help reduce your symptoms, including any necessary prescription cough medications.

Do you need medical care today?

Trusted, experienced doctors and nurse practitioners are ready to see you.
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.