How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System?
Key Takeaways
- Waiting for natural metabolism is the only way to clear shrooms - Jump to Section
- Shrooms contain psilocybin, inducing euphoria and hallucinations - Jump to Section
- Effects of shrooms peak around 6 hours and then decline - Jump to Section
- Treatment for shroom misuse includes inpatient, outpatient, and therapy - Jump to Section
How Long Do Shrooms (Psilocybin) Stay in Your System?
Mushrooms stay in your system for 24 hours or longer. Their effects last up to 6 hours.
How long routine drug tests can detect the presence of shrooms in your system also varies based on the type of test. For example:
- Urine tests: Most people eliminate psilocybin within 24 hours. A urine drug test won’t detect their presence for much longer than this.
- Hair tests: Psilocybin is detectable for as long as 90 days.
- Blood tests: It takes psilocybin about 15 hours to leave your bloodstream. This is about how long it’s detectable in blood. However, blood tests are rarely used to detect shrooms.
There are currently no reliable saliva drug tests for mushrooms.
Factors That Affect Detection Time
Factors affecting the time mushrooms stay in your system include:
Time Between Ingesting and Testing
The body eliminates mushrooms quickly. To detect mushrooms, testing must occur within 24 hours or less unless it’s a hair drug test. The sooner the test after taking mushrooms, the higher the likelihood they’ll be detected.
Half-Life
This is how long it takes for half of the mushrooms or any other drug to leave your system. The average half-life of psilocybin is 3 hours.1
Mushroom Species
There are as many as 200 different species of psilocybin mushrooms. The higher the amount of hallucinogen present, the longer it remains detectable.
Method of Consumption
You can take fresh or dried mushrooms. They can be eaten or dissolved in liquid for drinking. How you consume them affects their potency and how long they’re detectable in your system.
Dosage
How much you consume plays a big role. The higher the dosage, the longer psilocybin is detectable.
Age
Older people metabolize mushrooms slower than younger people. Exactly how much slower depends on the individual.
Body Composition
Factors including body mass index (BMI), metabolism, and water content affect the speed at which psilocybin is excreted from the body.
Food and Liquid in Your System at the Time of Ingestion
Eating before ingesting mushrooms slows the time it takes to eliminate mushrooms from the body. Drinking is the opposite. Water speeds up psilocybin excretion.
Other Substances Used While Taking Mushrooms
Using shrooms with other substances creates unpredictability. The additional substances might also appear in drug testing, even if psilocybin doesn’t.
Keep in mind mushrooms might be laced with other substances. Even if you don’t intend to mix, it’s possible to ingest other substances when taking mushrooms.
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How to Get Shrooms Out of Your System
If you suspect you or someone else has overdosed on mushrooms or any other drug, it’s important to seek emergency medical attention.
There is no guaranteed way to “get shrooms out of your system.” The only reliable option is to wait for your body to eliminate the drug.
Everyone metabolizes mushrooms differently. It can take 24 hours or longer for mushrooms to leave your system, depending on your health, the dosage, and your metabolism.
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What are Shrooms?
Shrooms, sometimes called “magic mushrooms,” “psilocybin mushrooms,” or just “mushrooms,” are a type of mushroom that contains the psychedelic compound psilocybin.
For centuries, psilocybin has been used to induce feelings of euphoria, heighten awareness and perception, and produce hallucinogenic effects.
Psilocybin mushrooms are popular among recreational users and those seeking therapeutic benefits.
Some believe psilocybin has the potential to help treat conditions, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Addiction
Fully understanding exactly how psilocybin works and whether it can be safely used therapeutically requires more research. Medical professionals warn against self-medicating with psilocybin or any other drug.
Psilocybin is also used recreationally as a party drug, like marijuana or ecstasy.
What Happens to Your Body When You Take Shrooms?
Most people take mushrooms orally. Psilocybin is absorbed into the bloodstream once the mushrooms reach your stomach. It usually takes about 30 to 90 minutes to feel the effects of mushrooms.
Physical effects include:
- Elevated blood pressure
- Headaches
- Increased heart rate
- Increased temperature
- Nausea
- Yawning
You’ll experience a gradual increase in the effects until they reach a peak. Gradually, as your body metabolizes the substance, the effects decrease.
Depending on dosage size, the effects tend to last about 6 hours.
Side Effects
Psilocybin affects the body’s level of serotonin. It activates serotonin receptors in the parts of the brain associated with perception, mood, and cognition.
This affects perception and mood and causes:
- Euphoria
- Time distortion
- Hallucinations
- Feelings of connectedness with others
- Feelings of heaviness
- Relaxation
- Introspective feelings
Some people experience unpleasant effects, including nervousness, paranoia, and panic.
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Signs of an Overdose
If you suspect someone has taken a dangerous amount of a substance, you should call 911. However, psilocybin mushroom overdose is unlikely.
There are no physical symptoms of psilocybin overdose. The primary risk of ingesting too much psilocybin is the user will have a very intense psychological experience. They might also experience a so-called bad trip.
The following list are symptoms or sensations commonly experienced with a ‘bad trip:’
- Confusion
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Delusions
- Loss of awareness
- Increased likelihood of dangerous behavior
Anyone can experience a bad trip. A person experiencing one is more likely to need psychological support to overcome these experiences.
Having someone else, such as an experienced user, create a positive setting before ingesting mushrooms may reduce the likelihood of a ‘bad trip’.
Substance Abuse Treatment Options
Psilocybin isn’t a physically addictive substance. However, users can build tolerance and require large doses to have any effect.
Additionally, mushroom users can become psychologically dependent on the drug. They believe they need the drug to feel good or to function in their everyday lives.
And finally, some users combine psilocybin use with other drugs, which can be physically addictive.
If you or someone you love needs help with drug use, many treatment options are available.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment allows people to live full-time at the treatment facility and receive round-the-clock medical supervision.
The programs combine various treatment approaches, including:
- Medical supervision
- Group counseling
- Individual therapy
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment offers daily treatment without an overnight stay. Participants live off-site but spend several hours per week in treatment. These programs offer:
- Individual counseling
- Group therapy
- Access to medication when needed
12-Step Programs
12-step programs, including Narcotics Anonymous, provide flexible support. They take the traditional 12-step approach introduced by Alcoholics Anonymous. These programs are used independently or in conjunction with other treatment approaches.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy. It helps people change their thinking and behavior. It helps you develop coping skills and treats various mental health disorders, including addiction.
Many people participate in ongoing treatment programs after they’re clean. This is especially true for 12-step programs. They provide long-term options that reduce a person’s risk of relapse.
Summary
Psilocybin mushrooms, or “shrooms,” trigger euphoria and hallucinogenic effects when ingested. These effects last several hours.
Even after the effects wear off, the drug remains detectable in someone’s system via urine or blood tests for up to 24 hours. Several factors, including weight, age, and method of consumption, affect how long the drug lasts.
Some users experience negative side effects or a “bad trip” when using mushrooms. Although this is rarely physically dangerous, seeking medical attention is still a good idea.
Psilocybin isn’t physically addictive. However, some users develop a psychological addiction to the drug. Treatment is available for people who struggle with addiction symptoms after mushroom use.
These treatment options are designed for typical addiction issues. They are not specific to psilocybin use or misuse.
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- Brown, Randall T, et al. “Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults.” Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2017.
- de Veen, Bas T.H., et al. “Psilocybin for Treating Substance Use Disorders?” Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 2016.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Psilocybine.” nih.gov, 2019.
- Nichols, David E. “Psilocybin: From Ancient Magic to Modern Medicine.” The Journal of Antibiotics, 2020.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Hallucinogens DrugFacts.” nih.gov, 2019.
- Consroe, P. F. “Treatment of Acute Hallucinogenic Drug Toxicity: Specific Pharmacological Intervention.” Bulletin (National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers (U.S.)), 1973.
