How Long Do Shrooms Stay In Your System? – Psychedelic Mushroom (Psilocybin) Detection Time

Medically reviewed by

Isaac Alexis, M.D., AAMA, AMP-BC

February 11, 2019

Psychedelic mushrooms contain the psychoactive chemical psilocybin, which is an illegal hallucinogen. Psilocybin and its metabolite psilocin can be detected in a person’s body for 15 hours after use.

Mushrooms containing psilocybin have been ingested for thousands of years, often for spiritual or mystical purposes. This drug gained momentum in the U.S. during the 1960s and continues to be popular among certain religious and creative circles.

Psychedelic Mushroom (Psilocybin) Detection Time

Psilocybin stays in a person’s system for about 15 hours. The detection time for psychedelic mushrooms depends on a variety of factors, including the frequency of dose. If a person uses mushrooms chronically or ingests a large amount, they may experience a longer detection time.

When a person takes mushrooms, they will begin to feel the effects within 30-45 minutes. People who take psychedelic mushrooms may consume them raw, dried, or brewed in tea.

After ingestion, the body turns psilocybin to a metabolite called psilocin. These chemicals affect serotonin levels in the brain and cause side effects such as nausea, relaxation, visual hallucinations, and time distortion (where minutes feel like hours).

Psilocybin levels typically peak in the bloodstream about 90 minutes after use, which is also when effects are felt most strongly. People typically experience side effects of psychedelic mushrooms for about 4-6 hours, depending on dose.

Drug Test Types That Detect Magic Mushrooms

Detection time of psychedelic mushrooms can also be affected by the type of drug test given. Most standard drug tests do not screen for psilocybin, but it is possible to test positive for mushrooms in urine, blood, and hair tests.

Urine Tests

Urine tests are the most routine type of drug test, commonly used by employers and court systems. While psilocybin can be detected in urine for about 15 hours, standard drug tests do not routinely screen for psilocybin or its metabolites.

Blood Tests

Testing a person’s blood for psilocybin is far less common, but it can happen. Traces of psychedelic mushrooms can be detected in a person’s blood for up to five hours after use.

Hair Tests

It can take several days for traces of psilocin to be detected in a person’s hair. Psychedelic mushroom metabolites can be found in someone’s hair about 90 days after last use.

Regardless of the type of drug test, someone who uses psychedelic mushrooms regularly may have longer detection windows.

Factors That Influence How Long Shrooms Are in Your System

When a person ingests psychedelic mushrooms, their body begins to metabolize the substance into psilocin. This process occurs in the liver, and a person’s overall liver health can impact their actual detection time.

Psilocybin detection time can also be affected by factors that include:

• age: As a person ages, their metabolism dips, and their body processes things at a much slower pace. The older a person is, the longer their detection window will be.
• current health status: The metabolization process is dependent on healthy, functioning organs. If a person has health issues that compromise their body’s operations, it will lengthen the time psilocybin can be detected in their system.
• dose: A person that takes small, occasional doses of mushrooms will have a much shorter detection time. If an individual takes large or frequent doses, they are more likely to have traces of the drug in their system long-term.
• genetics: A person’s genetics can affect the rate at which their body processes toxins, including psilocybin.

Effects Of Psychedelic Mushroom (Psilocybin) On The Mind

Many people take psychedelic mushrooms to experience visual or auditory hallucinations. These hallucinations include bright colors and pleasantly distorted images. However, psilocybin is a toxic chemical that can result in several health risks.

Using hallucinogenic drugs like psilocybin can lead individuals to build up a high tolerance. This means that a person must ingest larger doses in order to get the same effect.

Some studies show psilocybin use can result in hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), or persistent flashbacks. This happens when negative or disturbing images appear in a person’s mind, even after the high has worn off.

Additional effects of psilocybin on the mind include:

• visual disturbances
• clouded thoughts
• severe paranoia
• negative changes in mood

Emerging research suggests that low doses of psilocybin may be helpful in the treatment of psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

However, this is not a reason to self-medicate with psilocybin — these cases took place under medical supervision. Someone suffering from psychiatric conditions should discuss all treatment with their doctor.

Effects On The Body

As with most drugs, the way a person reacts to psilocybin can vary. Physical effects of psilocybin can range from relaxation and yawning, to nausea and vomiting.

While most people take psilocybin to evoke a feeling of calm or wisdom, the drug can also have an opposite effect. Some people may experience a “bad trip” while on psychedelic mushrooms.

Researchers state that bad trips include “terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of losing control, insanity, or death.”

This type of situation can put extreme stress on the body, and cause a person to engage in risky or reckless behavior.

Addiction Treatment For Magic Mushroom Dependence

While psychedelic mushrooms are not considered addictive, it is possible to abuse this drug. It can be challenging to overcome a tolerance or dependence on psilocybin.

A dependence on psilocybin does not have to permanently alter a person’s health and well-being. If you or someone you love is struggling with the use of psychedelic mushrooms, there is help available in the form of personalized addiction treatment.

Personalized treatment may include individual and group counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and behavioral therapy.

For more information on psychedelic mushroom detection time, or to find a treatment center near you, contact one of our specialists today.