Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms, collectively known as psilocybin mushrooms or more commonly-magic mushrooms. As a prodrug, psilocybin is quickly converted by the body to psilocin, which has mind-altering effects similar, in some aspects, to those of LSD, mescaline, and DMT. Nearly all of the psilocybin containing mushrooms are small brown mushrooms easily mistaken for any number of non-psychoactive, or poisonous mushrooms in the wild. This makes identifying true magic mushrooms not only difficult, but potentially hazardous and possibly lethal.
Know Your Body & Mind — ‘Set’
Know Your Environment — ‘Setting’
Know Your Drug — Practice Harm Reduction
ADMINISTRATION.
Swallowed
DURATION OF EFFECTS:
Total duration: 4 – 9 hours
Onset: 15 – 120 minutes
Peak: 2 – 3 hours
Coming down: 1 – 3 hours
Hangover/after effects: 0 – 6 hours
Half life: A drug’s half-life is the length of time required for the concentration of the drug to decrease to half of its starting dose in the body. You may feel that the effects of the mushrooms may seem to decrease after a few hours as Psilocybin has an elimination half-life of 160 minutes, and psilocin has an elimination half-life of 50 minutes. However it takes about 13 hours for more than 95 percent of psilocybin to leave the body and about 4 hours for approx. 95 percent of psilocin to leave the body. The effects may linger until you have slept properly. It is important to remember this if choosing to use other substances.
DRUG TESTS
Police & Workplace: Standardized drug tests don’t test for psilocybin or psilocin which includes roadside Police or workplace testing. However it is illegal to drive under the influence of any illicit drugs, including psilocybin and any driver may be subject to a roadside behavioural impairment test. Wait at least 24 hours before driving.
Saliva: 8+hrs Urine: 13+hrs Hair: Up to 90 days Blood: 13+hrs
Drug Checking: Lab-quality testing has been trialled in Australia and is not available as a health service yet but there are DIY ways to identify the right mushroom. Research taking a spore print. You can also use a Ehrlich reagent to produce a reaction with psilocybin. See photos of testing results here > verbinding.110110
EFFECTS
Effects vary from person to person. Check out our table below that has listed the potential physical, psychological and emotional effects.
SAFER DOSING
Taking drugs is never without risk. In an unregulated market it’s impossible to know the purity or dose of any drug. ‘Dose’ depends on the form a drug is in (liquid, powder, pill, crystal) and how you have it (snort, eat, inject).
- Magic mushrooms are usually eaten raw or brewed into tea. They can be consumed fresh or dried for later use. They can also be ground up after drying and put into caps.
- Potency can vary greatly from one mushroom to the next so it is important to test the strength by starting with a small dose.
- Some people will make a tea with lemon to reduce nausea and stomach cramps and to reduce the come-up time of the psilocybin. It can come on quicker and be a more intense experience.
- Use a milligram scale to weigh your dose.
- Weight of dose will vary depending on whether you use fresh, dried or capped (powdered and in capsules) mushrooms.
- A standard recreational dose of dried magic mushrooms is between 1 and 2.5 grams depending on body weight, tolerance, frequency of usage, and if you’ve eaten recently.
- It is best to wait at least 2 hours before redosing.
- Re-dosing usually does not intensify the trip due to tolerance build up but rather can extend the duration of the trip.
DID YOU KNOW?
Psilocybins have been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures around the world to induce altered states of consciousness during festive and religious ceremonies. As well as psilocybe mushrooms there is another species called amanita muscaria and amanita pantherina which are psychoactive but do not contain psilocybin as the active ingredient. These mushrooms are bright red or yellow with white dots and belong to a family of mushrooms that include some deadly poisonous strains. This resource will focus only on psilocybes. Recent scientific studies have used psilocybin assisted psychotherapy to ease end-of-life anxiety in terminally ill patients, and other trials are underway to investigate its use to help relieve depression and substance use disorders.
Physical effects
COMMON
- Uncontrollable laughter and giggling
- Visual hallucinations-open and closed eye visuals
- Sensory enhancement (taste, smell, touch)
- Increased energy
- Dilated pupils
- Unusual body sensations (chills, goosebumps, tingling)
- Feeling numb
- Yawning (but not tired)
LESS COMMON
- Irregular heart rate
- Light sensitivity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Increased salivation and mucus production (irritable coughing for some)
- Difficulty regulating body temperature / sweating
- Headaches
RARE
- Seizures
Emotional effects
COMMON
- Euphoria
- Mood Lift
- Emotional sensitivity
- Connection to nature
LESS COMMON
- Intense feelings of wonder
- Feeling of oneness with the universe and all beings
- Meaningful spiritual experiences
- Anxiety
- Lethargy (feeling heavy)
RARE
- Panic
- Intense fear
Psychological effects
COMMON
- Creative, philosophical or deep thinking, ideas flow more easily
- Mundane tasks or happenings can become more interesting and/or funny and entertaining
- General change in consciousness
- Distorted perception of time
- Increased confidence and aloofness
LESS COMMON
- Confusion
- Can precipitate or exacerbate pre existing mental health issues
- Feelings of isolation
- Reduced connection to ego, also known as an experience of ‘ego death’
- Increased awareness and appreciation of music
- Blurred boundaries between self and other
- Increased lateral thinking and problem solving
- Memories come to life
RARE
- Paranoia
- Synaesthesia (tasting colour, seeing sounds etc.)
- Psychosis
SAFER USING
For psychedelic drugs, more so than other psychoactive substances, set and setting are very important in determining the nature of the experience. ‘Set’ is the mindset a person brings with them and includes the physical, emotional and spiritual condition of the person, their expectations about the drug’s effects and how they will react to it. ‘Setting’ is the environment that a person is in, including the social environment, who you are with and the physical surroundings, e.g. at home, at a festival or an unfamiliar location.
- Try to use in a safe environment with friends and people you trust – somewhere you feel comfortable • It is best to have a sober friend or experienced user present (trip sitter), especially when it is your first time
- Eat something and wait 30 minutes before using (have snacks and water ready for the journey too).
- Always dose yourself, this way you know how much you are taking.
- It is better not to take Psilocybin if you don’t feel well (physically or emotionally). It can enhance these feelings
- Try to make sure you haven’t got anything important to do the next day – You may need some recovery time from the experience
- Try not to make any big decisions about life or people during the experience or until you have fully ‘landed’ and integrated your experience
- Research ‘Integration’, which is an ongoing process afterward to translate your psychedelic experience to have a positive impact in your life.
- Some people will make a tea with lemon to reduce nausea and stomach cramps, however this method can cause it to come on quicker and be a more intense experience.
LONG TERM EFFECTS:
Psychedelic drugs may accelerate the onset of mental health issues if you are predisposed to such issues.
SAFER HANDLING
Carrying mushrooms and paraphernalia (e.g. injecting/snorting/plugging equipment) puts you at risk of criminal charges including trafficking, even if you don’t deal. Know your local laws Know your local laws e.g. the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld), the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substance Act 1981 (Vic).
As mushrooms are organic matter, you might have a larger quantity than assumed and you may be at risk of attracting trafficking charges.
It is not recommended to use Magic Mushrooms if you have or are at risk of:
- Sleep deprivation
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Psychotic disorders
- Hypertension
- Heart problems
- High blood pressure
Drug combinations
Polydrug use has many possible outcomes. What could be fun for one person could be dangerous for another. We do not endorse any of these combinations and recommend you proceed with caution.
Unsafe combinations
- Tramadol – Tramadol is well known to lower seizure threshold and psychedelics also cause occasional seizures.
Cautionary combinations
- Amphetamines and Cocaine – Stimulants increase anxiety levels and the risk of thought loops which can lead to negative experiences.
- Cannabis – Cannabis has an unexpectedly strong and somewhat unpredictable synergy with psychedelics. Can also trigger psychosis.
Low risk effects
- Alcohol – Can increase chances of nausea, vomiting & blurred experience of trip. Alcohol can also decrease the desired effects of mushrooms.
- Benzodiazepines, GHB/GBL – Can decrease the desired effects of mushrooms.
- Antidepressants, SSRIs – Can inhibit the effects of mushrooms.
- Psychedelics (LSD, DMT, Mescaline, 2C-x, DOx, 5-MeO-xxT) – Although being low risk combinations, be mindful that they can intensify trip effects and increase the risk of challenging experience. Effects are less predictable.
- MDMA, Ketamine, Nitrous, MXE, DXM – Effects can intensify the trip.
Check out the TripSit drug combinations chart here for info on other combinations.
Call 000 if experiencing adverse effects, feel unwell or concerned in any way
Disclaimer
This educational resource has been developed collaboratively by healthcare workers and people who use drugs for their peers and the wider community. The role of Hi-Ground is to provide practical, evidence-based, unbiased information to assist you to make educated choices and to promote harm reduction, community care, and wellbeing.
In an unregulated market it’s impossible to know the purity or dose of any substance. Taking drugs from an unregulated market carries its own risk, and you can educate yourself and practice harm reduction to reduce this risk.
Knowledge is power.
This resource is produced by DanceWize & Hi-Ground