Ketamine Therapy in Winnipeg

Ketamine-assisted therapy is available in Winnipeg through NeuroMed, ATMA CENA's Manitoba member clinic, located at 398B Edison Ave. NeuroMed offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with structured preparation and integration, operating under Manitoba's January 2026 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) framework. This guide covers what's available in Winnipeg, who qualifies, what it costs, and the Manitoba regulatory context patients should understand.

Key takeaways

• Ketamine therapy in Winnipeg is delivered through NeuroMed, ATMA CENA's Manitoba member clinic at 398B Edison Ave.
• CPSM January 2026 guidance: ketamine for off-label psychiatric use is permitted only in CPSM-accredited non-hospital medical facilities or hospitals.
• Manitoba has no publicly funded psychiatric ketamine program. Manitoba Pharmacare does not cover ketamine for psychiatric indications; Spravato is not on the standard formulary.
• WCB Manitoba reviews ketamine claims case-by-case; private insurance typically covers Spravato with prior authorization but not generic ketamine.

What is ketamine-assisted therapy?

Ketamine therapy uses sub-anaesthetic doses of ketamine — a Health Canada-approved anaesthetic — to treat conditions including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and chronic pain. Health Canada has approved ketamine as an anaesthetic; psychiatric use is off-label, a legal and common practice in Canadian medicine. Spravato (intranasal esketamine) is Health Canada-approved specifically for treatment-resistant MDD as of May 2020.

When ketamine is paired with structured psychotherapy before, during, and after dosing, the treatment is called ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) or ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT). NeuroMed's Winnipeg practice uses this model — preparation sessions, the dosing session itself, and integration sessions afterwards. For the full mechanism explanation, see What Is Ketamine Therapy?.

How ketamine works in the brain

Ketamine acts on the brain's glutamate system through NMDA receptor antagonism, triggering a downstream surge of glutamate, AMPA receptor activation, and BDNF/synaptogenesis — the formation of new neural connections within 24 to 72 hours. Conventional antidepressants take 4 to 6 weeks to act on serotonin and norepinephrine; ketamine can produce antidepressant effects within 2 to 72 hours of a single IV dose (Lullau et al., 2023).

The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments places IV racemic ketamine as a third-line treatment for adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (Swainson et al., 2021).

NeuroMed — ATMA CENA's Winnipeg member clinic

NeuroMed operates as a member clinic within ATMA CENA's national network. The clinical model uses ATMA CENA's three-phase KAP structure: preparation, dosing, integration. Preparation sessions establish the therapeutic relationship and screen for contraindications. Dosing sessions occur in a monitored setting with the clinician present throughout. Integration sessions translate insights from the dosing experience into sustained behavioural change.

For ATMA CENA's broader coordinated care network — which lets patients keep their existing therapist while accessing dosing infrastructure — see find care near you.

Manitoba's regulatory framework

Two regulatory layers govern Winnipeg ketamine clinics:

Federal — Health Canada. Ketamine is a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, legally prescribed by physicians and nurse practitioners. Health Canada has approved ketamine as an anaesthetic; psychiatric use is off-label. Spravato is Health Canada-approved for treatment-resistant MDD.

Provincial — CPSM January 2026. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba updated guidance January 20, 2026: "The administration of ketamine for off-label purposes is now only permitted in CPSM-accredited, non-hospital medical or surgical facilities or in hospitals" (CPSM, 2026). Prescribers must:

• Document informed consent for off-label use
• Review the patient's DPIN (Drug Program Information Network) record
• Conduct periodic Comprehensive Urine Drug Screening
• Use the M3P controlled-substance prescription pad with formulation, strength, route, and total mg specified

Non-hospital facilities providing IV ketamine must hold MANQAP (Manitoba Quality Assurance Program) accreditation, contact: manqap@cpsm.mb.ca. The intent is to ensure patients in Manitoba receive ketamine in settings with appropriate oversight, monitoring, and safety protocols.

Manitoba public coverage and insurance

Manitoba Pharmacare: Ketamine for psychiatric use is not covered. Spravato is not listed on the standard formulary; Exception Drug Status (EDS) requests are technically possible but Spravato is not a standard EDS pathway. The Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program (MEPP, launched April 2025) does not include ketamine.

WCB Manitoba: Reviews ketamine claims case-by-case; rarely approved outside established pain-management protocols. Patients with compensable workplace injuries should ask their case manager.

Private insurance: Most private insurers cover Spravato with prior authorization for treatment-resistant MDD; they generally do not cover off-label IV/IM/sublingual ketamine. Plans vary — verify with your administrator.

Veterans Affairs Canada: Covers ketamine as a non-formulary product for service-related TRD or chronic pain on a case-by-case basis.

The practical result: most Winnipeg patients pay out-of-pocket for ketamine therapy.

What does ketamine therapy cost in Winnipeg?

ATMA CENA's published KAT pricing applies across the network: KAT Psychedelic Pathway from CAD $1,585 + $795 per additional session; KAT Psycholytic Pathway from CAD $1,530 + $740 per additional session; customized programs CAD $2,325–$6,930. A non-refundable deposit of CAD $300 applies. NeuroMed pricing follows this framework; confirm specific figures during your information call.

For a full Canadian pricing breakdown including IV, Spravato, and competitor providers, see Ketamine Therapy Cost in Canada.

Who is a candidate?

Most Canadian ketamine clinics use the following inclusion criteria:

• Adults 18 or older
• Diagnosis of TRD (failure of 2+ adequate antidepressant trials), bipolar depression with mood-stabilizer coverage, PTSD, anxiety disorders, OCD, or chronic pain
• Medically stable; able to provide informed consent
• Willing to engage in preparation and integration sessions

Absolute contraindications: active psychosis, uncontrolled severe hypertension, severe cardiovascular disease, current pregnancy, anaphylactic reaction to ketamine, active manic episode. Relative contraindications: history of substance use disorder, severe personality disorder with marked instability, recent stroke, untreated severe sleep apnea, concurrent use of MAOIs or high-dose benzodiazepines.

For full eligibility detail, see How to Qualify for Ketamine Therapy in Canada.

What to expect at NeuroMed

Patients arrive at the Edison Ave clinic having fasted (typical for IV protocols) or eaten lightly per program instructions. Vitals are checked. The clinician administers the dose — typically IM or sublingual at the NeuroMed site. The acute experience lasts 45 to 90 minutes. Patients commonly describe altered time perception, mild visual or auditory shifts, and an emotional softening. The clinician stays with the patient throughout.

After the dosing window, patients rest for 30 to 60 minutes (longer for Spravato — Health Canada requires a minimum 2-hour observation). Patients cannot drive for at least 24 hours and need an escort home.

Winnipeg practical note: Winnipeg Transit serves North Winnipeg via bus routes accessible from Edison Ave, but post-session no-driving makes a designated driver or rideshare the safer option. For winter sessions (November–March), allow extra travel time and plan for snow conditions.

How to start

The path from inquiry to first session typically takes 2 to 4 weeks:

1. Information call — brief intake call to confirm initial eligibility
2. Intake questionnaire — health history covering psychiatric history, medications, prior treatments
3. Clinical consultation — diagnostic confirmation, contraindication screening, suicide risk assessment
4. Medical clearance — cardiovascular workup, baseline blood pressure, ECG
5. Informed consent and treatment plan
6. First session scheduled

Frequently asked questions

Where is NeuroMed located in Winnipeg? 398B Edison Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2G 0L8 — North Winnipeg in the Garden City area. Phone +1-431-801-5050.

Is ketamine therapy legal in Winnipeg? Yes. Ketamine is legally prescribed by physicians and nurse practitioners under the CDSA. Off-label psychiatric use is permitted under Canadian off-label prescribing rules. CPSM January 2026 guidance requires off-label ketamine to be administered in CPSM-accredited facilities or hospitals.

Does Manitoba Pharmacare cover ketamine therapy? No. Manitoba Pharmacare does not cover ketamine for psychiatric use. Spravato is not on the standard formulary. The Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program (April 2025) does not include ketamine.

How much does ketamine therapy cost at NeuroMed? ATMA CENA's published KAT pricing applies across the network: CAD $1,530–$6,930 depending on pathway and number of sessions, plus a CAD $300 non-refundable deposit. Confirm specific figures during your information call.

Do I need a doctor's referral? No. NeuroMed accepts self-referrals through ATMA CENA information call. Some publicly funded programs in other provinces require psychiatrist referral, but NeuroMed does not.

What conditions does NeuroMed treat with ketamine? Treatment-resistant depression, MDD with suicidal ideation, bipolar depression (with mood-stabilizer coverage), PTSD, anxiety disorders, OCD, addiction, and chronic pain. Specific eligibility is determined at clinical assessment.

Can I drive after a ketamine session? No. Patients cannot drive for at least 24 hours after a session. Arrange a designated driver or rideshare in advance.

Is there a publicly funded ketamine program in Winnipeg? No. Manitoba does not have a publicly funded psychiatric ketamine program. Edmonton's Misericordia/Grey Nuns hospital program and Vancouver's UBC Hospital program are the major public Canadian options, both requiring psychiatrist referral within their respective health authorities.

Can my existing therapist work with NeuroMed? Yes — through ATMA CENA's coordinated care model. Your therapist can remain the primary therapeutic relationship while NeuroMed provides medical oversight and dosing infrastructure. Discuss with your therapist and ATMA CENA team during the information call.

Sources

1. ATMA CENA — NeuroMed Winnipeg: https://psychedelic.healthcare/
2. ATMA CENA — Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (pricing): https://psychedelic.healthcare/
3. ATMA CENA — find care near you: https://psychedelic.healthcare/find-care
4. CPSM Manitoba — Ketamine Prescribers and Pharmacists Guide (January 2026): https://www.cpsm.mb.ca/news/ketamine-what-prescribers-and-pharmacists-need-to-know
5. CPSM Manitoba — IV Ketamine Administration: https://www.cpsm.mb.ca/news/intravenous-ketamine-administration
6. Manitoba Enhanced Pharmacare Program: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/pharmacare/profdocs/mepp-drug-list.pdf
7. Manitoba Exception Drug Status: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mdbif/docs/edsnotice.pdf
8. Health Canada DPD — Spravato: https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=98903
9. Lullau APM, et al. (2023). Antidepressant mechanisms of ketamine. Front Neurosci. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1223145/full
10. Swainson J, et al. (2021). CANMAT racemic ketamine recommendations. Can J Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33174760/
11. NeuroMed Winnipeg: https://neuromed.ca/

Related articles

• Ketamine Therapy in Canada
• What Is Ketamine Therapy?
• Ketamine Therapy Cost in Canada
• How to Qualify for Ketamine Therapy in Canada
• Ketamine Therapy for Depression
• Ketamine Therapy in Calgary
• Ketamine Therapy in Edmonton
• ATMA CENA NeuroMed Winnipeg member clinic
• Find care near you

Last updated: 2026-05-05