Panic attack & disorder treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. You can speak to a doctor on Maple if you believe you've experienced a panic attack.

In some cases, the doctor may offer some recommendations on how to manage panic attacks after evaluating your condition and symptoms. They will also potentially request additional testing at a clinic to confirm the diagnosis.

The additional tests could include:

• A thorough physical exam
• Tests on your heart and thyroid gland, as other conditions involving these two areas can cause similar symptoms

A psychological evaluation to determine possible panic attack triggers

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 to your door at no additional cost.

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

A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or anxiety that can trigger severe psychosomatic responses – physical reactions triggered by the mental state.

These can be quite frightening, as they can lead some people to believe that they're having a heart attack or even dying.

Most people will experience at least one panic attack in their lifetime. This is normal, and can vary in severity depending on the mental issues or situational stress that causes the panic attack symptoms.

Panic disorder occurs when a person begins to experience unexpected or recurrent panic attacks, or lives in chronic fear of having more panic attacks. Panic disorder symptoms are typically the same as those experienced with panic attacks.

There are many variations and levels of severity associated with having a panic attack. Different people may experience these attacks in different ways.

Common panic attack symptoms include:

• Chills or sweating
• Headache
• Sudden onset nausea
• Sense of impending danger or doom
• Chest pain
• Rapid or pounding heartbeat
• Fear of death or loss of control
• Chest pain or tightness
• Abdominal cramps
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Tingling or numbness
• Shortness of breath
• Tremors
• Hot flashes
• Feeling detached from reality

Because panic disorder is essentially a chronic or recurrent set of panic attacks, panic disorder symptoms are often the same as panic attacks.

In addition to the panic attack symptoms listed above, those experiencing panic disorder may continue experiencing a chronic, lingering sense of dread or fear, as they become fixated on attacks that haven't yet happened. If left untreated, this can have a serious negative impact on their quality of life.

At this time, it's still unclear what direct panic attack causes trigger the attacks. However, several factors are believed to contribute to them and increase the risks of having a panic attack. These include:

• High stress situations
• Chronic stress
• Genetics
• Temperament that is prone to negative reactions or emotions
• Changes in brain function

The two most common forms of panic disorder treatment involve medications or on-going psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy, also called “talk therapy”, is considered a very effective panic disorder and panic attack treatment. Typically, the treatment involves the therapist helping patients recreate panic attack symptoms in a safe and controlled environment so that they can learn how to cope and control those emotions. This can also have the benefit of helping patients overcome the fears or anxieties that function as panic attack triggers.

Panic attack medication falls into one of three types:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are antidepressants, also known as SSRIs
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which is another class of antidepressants, also known as SNRIs
• Benzodiazepines, which are central nervous system depressants

Dosage and frequency of use will depend on the severity.

While there is no guaranteed method to prevent a panic attack, certain techniques can be used to help minimize symptoms when dealing with panic attacks. Some of these include:

• Using muscle relaxation or meditation techniques
• Deep breathing exercises
• Closing your eyes to reduce outside stimuli
• Recognizing and acknowledging that you're having a panic attack
• Focusing on an object to distract your mind from your fears
• Performing light exercise to reduce nervous energy
• Taking prescribed medication, preferably ahead of time if you believe a panic attack is imminent
• Practicing mindfulness and focusing on the world around you to avoid feeling detached from the reality
• Repeating a calming mantra or phrase
• Keeping calming scents nearby, like lavender, lemon, or rosemary.

While panic attack symptoms and anxiety attack symptoms are very similar, the biggest difference between the two is that an anxiety attack is directly related to an existing stressor, while a panic attack can come on completely unprovoked.

This makes panic attack triggers somewhat less predictable and more intense, as there is little to no warning before they begin. Expected panic attacks cued by outside stressors do exist, but they're typically associated with severe phobias.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists via secure text, audio or video call. Sign in to your Maple account to start a visit. Learn more about how Maple works here.

A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Not every visit leads to a prescription. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to care online. Connect with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in minutes via secure text, audio or video call.

Our membership costs $85/month. One membership. Care for your whole family. In eligible provinces, membership includes:

• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
• Pediatric care: covered pediatric primary care visits, available by appointment
• Second Medical Opinion: when you're unsure about a complex diagnosis, like cancer or MS, or want to understand all your options, you and your family can access an expert Second Medical Opinion
• Personal Health Check-Ins: personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to help you stay on top of your health
• iCBT courses: internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy self-assessments and courses
• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
• Specialist referrals: a referral to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed

Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

Your Maple monthly membership covers virtual care for you, your spouse and your dependents under the age of 18 who share the same primary residence. Full disclaimer and refund policy here.

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

Privacy is at the core of how we deliver care. We follow Canadian privacy and healthcare laws, including PIPEDA and PHIPA, to protect your personal and health information.

Our policies and consent processes are simple and easy to understand, so you stay in control. Strong security infrastructure and strict data policies protect every session. You keep control of your personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. We also work with privacy and security experts and review our policies regularly.

All doctors and nurse practitioners who deliver care through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their regulatory colleges. They must follow the telemedicine policies set by the medical regulator in each province.

Regulators across Canada recognize the value of virtual care. It helps improve access to care for patients and makes care delivery more efficient for practitioners and Canada's healthcare system.