How Long Do Shrooms Last?
- Fact-checked by Dr. Desiree Granados
If you’ve ever wondered how long psilocybin stays in your system, you’re not alone. This question is a common one, and for good reason. Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, and it can produce some powerful effects.
Whether you’re wondering about its duration because you want to try mushrooms yourself or because you’re concerned about someone else, it’s important to have accurate information. In this article, we’ll explore how long psilocybin stays in your system and what factors affect that time frame.
What is Psilocybin Used for and How Is it Consumed?
Psilocybin mushrooms can be eaten raw or crushed into powder to be used in food, hot beverages, or smoothies. They’re primarily consumed to produce hallucinations and facilitate profound, perspective-changing experiences. Research has also demonstrated that magic mushrooms can serve as an effective alternative treatment method for individuals suffering from mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as substance abuse.
However, psilocybin can induce different effects in different users based on their physical and psychological makeup. Physiological effects of psilocybin can include changes in heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, and changes in body temperature. Psychological effects can include euphoria, hallucinations, and spiritual experiences. Behavioral effects can include increased confidence, risk-taking behaviors, and aggression.
How Long Do the Effects of Psilocybin Last?
The length of time that the effects of psilocybin last within a consumer’s body depends on many factors, including the dosage size, the person’s body weight, and the environment in which it is consumed. In general, though, the effects of psilocybin last for about three to six hours.
How Long Does Psilocybin Stay in Your System?
Even after the effects of magic mushrooms dissipate, the substance can remain in your body. Generally, they can remain in your system for up to 24 hours, but that time frame can vary based on variables such as your age and body weight, how much food and water you’ve recently consumed, how many mushrooms you consumed, and what species they were.
Can You Flush Psilocybin Out of Your System?
There aren’t any sure-fire ways to quickly flush psilocybin out of your system. That said, doing things like drinking a lot of water, exercising, and eating fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants can potentially accelerate the detoxification process.
Ultimately, though, the fastest way to rid your system of psilocybin is to stop consuming shrooms.
What Precautions Should You Take When Consuming Psilocybin?
When taking psilocybin, it is important to be aware of the duration of the drug’s effects. You should consider changing any near-term plans that might require your full attention before ingesting psilocybin since the substance can linger in your system for some time.
Additionally, it is important to remember that psilocybin can have strong effects on your mood and mental state. Therefore, users should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while under the influence of the drug. Additionally, it would be ill-advised to mix psilocybin with other drugs or medications since doing so can produce unpredictable, potentially harmful effects.
You cannot overdose on psilocybin. However, it is possible to have an adverse reaction to magic mushrooms. Such reactions can include confusion, anxiety, panic attacks, and harrowing hallucinations. Users refer to these unpleasant experiences as “bad trips.”
But as long as you take the aforementioned precautions and consume psilocybin in moderate doses, you needn’t worry about having a negative experience with psilocybin mushrooms.
How we reviewed this article:
- How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System? https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-do-shrooms-stay-in-your-system
- What are magic mushrooms? https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/psilocybin/
- How psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/11/health/psilocybin-brain-changes-life-itself-wellness-scn/index.html
Current Version
November 24, 2023
Written By
John DiBella
Fact-checked By
Dr. Desiree Granados
Editorial Process
Our Editorial Process
John DiBella is the co-founder and CEO at The Sanctuary Wellness Institute. His goal is to foster healthier lifestyles to improve individuals’ quality of life and health span through online medical and non-medical services. When he’s not writing blogs about medical marijuana, he enjoys hiking, camping, surfing and sailing.
