Psilocybin is a psychoactive compound in some types of mushrooms. People have ingested these “magic mushrooms” for traditional and recreational purposes for hundreds of years. Now, people all over the world use magic mushrooms for their mood-enhancing, psychedelic effects.
Mushrooms may be a natural substance, but their effects can be hazardous. People who ingest psilocybin mushrooms can have unwanted or long-lasting adverse side effects.
This article will explore how long a mushroom trip lasts.
What you will learn:
- The effects and risks of magic mushroom abuse
- How long a mushroom trip lasts
- How long psilocybin may remain in your system
- Where to find substance abuse treatment and support
Contact the Alamo Behavioral Health Specialists to learn about our comprehensive treatment and support programs. Reach out with questions or to schedule an intake appointment.
What are Magic Mushrooms?
Some types of fungi contain compounds called psilocin and psilocybin. Psilocybin can cause hallucinogenic effects.[1] People may ingest mushrooms containing this compound by brewing them as tea or eating them.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classified psilocybin as a Class I drug.[2] This classification means that psilocybin poses a significant risk of addiction and has no accepted medical use.
Magic mushrooms are illegal in most states. However, some areas of the country have begun to pass laws that decriminalize or legalize shrooms for medicinal and recreational use. As mushroom use becomes more widespread, people need to know the dangers of this psychedelic drug.
Understanding the Effects and Risks of Mushrooms
People who ingest magic mushrooms experience a range of psychological and physical side effects. Some common effects of using shrooms include:[1,2]
- Nausea
- Loss of coordination
- Dilated pupils
- Elevated blood pressure
- Euphoria
- Panic
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Increased heart rate
- Elevated body temperature
- Distorted sense of time, space, and reality
- Spiritual experiences
- Visual and auditory hallucinations
- Paranoia
Some users may experience dangerous side effects, including psychosis and seizures. Harmful side effects and complications are more common in people who use high doses of mushrooms. However, anyone can experience unwanted or dangerous side effects of magic mushrooms.
One of the risks of consuming shrooms is having a “bad trip.” A bad trip means experiencing disturbing hallucinations or upsetting psychedelic experiences. Bad trips may also include intense paranoia or psychosis.[3,4] While a bad trip may not be dangerous, people may experience upsetting flashbacks to a bad trip.
Another risk of using mushrooms is accidentally consuming a poisonous species. It can be almost impossible to determine which species you are consuming, and some users have accidentally consumed a toxic species. Consuming a poisonous species of mushroom can cause:[5]
- Muscle spasms
- Delirium
- Confusion
Poisoning is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
People who use mushrooms are at risk of long-term personality changes. People may also have new or worsening symptoms of mental health conditions.
People may find it challenging to stop using mushrooms without treatment and support. Treatment and ongoing support can help people safely stop using shrooms and avoid relapse.
How Long Does a Mushroom Trip Last?
People typically begin to feel the effects of shrooms within about 30 minutes of ingesting them. Many factors can affect how long a mushroom trip lasts. These factors include:
- The mushroom species you ingested
- If you took a small dose or consumed a large amount
- If you had an empty stomach before consuming shrooms
- Your age
- Your body composition
- How you ingested the mushrooms
- If you used other substances at the same time
The effects of shrooms are generally more potent when people use larger amounts. Many users report that fresh shrooms are more powerful than dried mushrooms.
Generally, people experience mushroom’s effects for 3 to 6 hours. However, the psychoactive compound in mushrooms can remain in your body for much longer.
Once you ingest mushrooms, there is not much you can do to flush them out of your system faster. You must wait for the effects to wear off over the course of several hours.
How Long Do Mushrooms Stay in Your System?
The psychedelic compounds in mushrooms can remain in your body longer than the effects last. Your body begins to metabolize psilocybin within half an hour of ingesting it.[6] However, drug tests may be able to detect it in different bodily systems.
Here is an overview of how long drug tests may detect psilocybin in your body.
Urine test
Urine testing may detect psilocybin for up to 24 hours after ingesting mushrooms.
Blood test
Blood testing may detect psilocybin for 24 hours or more, depending on the amount you consumed.
Hair test
A hair follicle test may detect psilocybin for up to 90 days after you ingest mushrooms.
Get Treatment Now
If you are concerned about passing a drug test, it may be a sign that you need treatment and support to overcome substance abuse. Get comprehensive, compassionate treatment at Alamo Behavioral Health. Contact our intake team to learn about our programs or schedule an intake assessment.
References:
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): Psilocybin
- National Institute of Health: Self-reported negative outcomes of psilocybin users: A quantitative textual analysis
- Science Direct: Making “bad trips” good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences
- Medscape: Mushroom Toxicity Clinical Presentation
- National Institute of Health: Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults