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How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System?

Wondering how long shrooms stay in your system? Learn about psilocybin effects, detection times, and factors influencing how long they remain in your body.

Dried hallucinogenic magic mushrooms

Does mushroom magic exist, or is it just a myth about its dangers and benefits? Often, contemplating this adventure leaves two key questions unanswered.

Do magic psychedelic mushrooms qualify as a drug? How long does their effect last in your body? Together, let’s dive in and find out!

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Psychoactive Effects & Legal Status of Mushrooms

What are Shrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms, also called “shrooms” or “magic mushrooms,” are wild or farmed fungi containing the psychoactive compound psilocybin. Psilocybin is a chemical that occurs naturally and has hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects.

The substance is classified as a Schedule I drug. This means it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the US. Nonetheless, some research findings suggest that this drug may alleviate symptoms of some types of mental illnesses. In Australia, in 2023, psychiatrists were allowed to prescribe psilocybin-containing medicines to patients with treatment-resistant depressive disorders.

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Factors Affecting Metabolism & Elimination

How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System?

When you test for shrooms in your body, how long they stay detectable can vary. This depends on many different factors. However, in general, the effects of shrooms last for approximately 4 to 6 hours on average.

What Factors Affect How Long Shrooms Stay in Your System For?

  • Dosage: When you take high doses, it takes longer to metabolize the drug. High doses also cause a much longer window for detection, as your body needs more time to expel the drug from the system.
  • Metabolism: There is substantial variation in the metabolic rates of people. If you have a higher metabolic rate, your body can get rid of shrooms faster than someone with a lower rate. Variables that generally affect metabolic rates include age, weight, and even genetics.
  • Weight: A person with more body mass is likely to have more fat. Some chemicals can build up in body fat. Because of this, obese people may store more psilocybin than lighter individuals. It takes longer for psilocybin to leave the body of a heavier person. In contrast, a lighter person will clear it more quickly.
  • Frequency of Use: If you use shrooms often, they may take longer to leave your body. This is because they can build up over time.
  • Body Composition: general health can affect medication metabolism. A healthy body processes chemicals faster than an unhealthy one. The liver and kidneys play key roles in breaking down and removing these chemicals. The main health factors that affect how long shrooms stay in your system are diet, sleep, and chronic illnesses like cirrhosis. 
  • Method of Consumption: The way you take shrooms—raw, cooked, or brewed—can affect how quickly your body processes them.

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How the Body Processes Shrooms

What Happens to Shrooms in the Body?

Psilocybin and psilocin are the psychoactive constituents present in shrooms. Understanding how these compounds are processed and how they are excreted will help us see their effects on the body.

How are Shrooms Metabolized?

Upon ingestion, psilocybin undergoes a process known as dephosphorylation, resulting in the formation of psilocin. This conversion predominantly occurs in the liver, where specific enzymes break down psilocybin, unleashing psilocin into the circulatory system. Psilocin is the active compound that interacts with the brain’s serotonin receptors, specifically the 5-HT2A receptor. This interaction is responsible for the hallucinatory effects linked to shrooms.

Absorption Timeline

  • After eating, effects usually start within 20 to 60 minutes. This timing depends on factors like metabolism, stomach contents, and the type of mushroom.
  • Peak effects generally occur around 1.5 to 3 hours post-consumption, lasting 4 to 6 hours.
  • The total experience can vary, but the overall effects usually subside within 6 to 8 hours.

Risks of Psilocybin Shrooms

Many of the hallucinogenic and physiological effects of psilocybin are thought to be the result of its interaction with the brain’s serotonergic neurotransmitter network.

Physical Effects and Risks

The physiological effects of psilocybin found in shrooms include:

  • Nausea.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Increased temperature.
  • Yawning.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Lack of coordination.
  • Headaches.
  • Dilated pupils.

Because they look so much like poisonous mushrooms, there is a risk of poisoning if you consume magic mushrooms. The toxic effects of mushrooms may cause serious health issues, damage to organs, and even death.

Because they look so much like poisonous mushrooms, there is a risk of poisoning if you consume magic mushrooms. The toxic effects of mushrooms may cause serious health issues, damage to organs, and even death.

It is also common for products derived from magic mushrooms to be contaminated. According to Pharm Chem Street Drug Laboratory, 886 samples were tested for mushrooms containing psilocybin in an old study.

Out of the mushrooms tested, 252 (28%) were real hallucinogenic mushrooms. Another 275 (31%) were fake mushrooms sold in stores. These fake mushrooms contained LSD or PCP. The remaining 37% had none of these substances at all.

Mental Effects and Risks

Long-term psilocybin use could impact cognition, behavior, retention of information, and focus. After long use, magic mushrooms can change how your brain works and looks. This can lead to problems in thinking and behavior that may last even after you stop using them. The specific effects of magic mushrooms on the mind or cognition are varied and can include:

  • Panic reactions.
  • Euphoria.
  • Hallucinations (visual or auditory).
  • Nervousness.
  • Distorted sense of time.
  • Distorted sense of place and reality.
  • Paranoia.
  • Psychosis.
  • Experiencing spiritual or introspective moments.
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The Excretion Process of Psilocybin & Psilocin

How Are Shrooms Eliminated from the Body?

After psilocin has been digested and its effects have manifested, it needs to be excreted from the system. The process happens predominantly through the kidneys and urine system.

Excretion Process

  • Kidney Function: The blood distributes psilocin to the kidneys, which then expel it through the urine. The body removes most psilocin within a day. However, the metabolites can remain in the system for a long time.
  • Half-Life: Experts believe that the body expels half of the psilocin dose within one to three hours. However, complete clearance may require additional time, depending on the body’s metabolic rate and fluid content.

Considerations for Elimination

  • Staying well-hydrated can support the body’s ability to eliminate substances efficiently.
  • The elimination rate can change based on several factors. These factors include how the substance is used, a person’s health, the dosage, their age, and kidney function.
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Drug Tests That Can Detect Shrooms

What Types of Drug Tests Can Detect Shrooms in the System?

Some special tests can find shrooms, but they are usually not part of routine drug tests.

Urine Tests

Urine drug tests are the primary technique for substance detection. Urine eliminates approximately 65% of psilocybin. On the other hand, routine panel screenings for drugs, such as five- and ten-panel assessments, do not scan for it.

Procedure: You are required to submit a urine sample. The sample is analyzed in a lab. Advanced techniques, such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, are used to find psilocin.

Even though there are specialized psilocybin tests, their high cost limits their use. They are only used when there is strong suspicion that someone has eaten poisonous mushrooms. Perform such tests quickly, as psilocybin typically disappears from your urine within fifteen hours. A smaller amount of psilocybin may appear in the urine sample up to a week later in some individuals.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are hardly used for the screening of mushrooms because of their limited detection window. Nevertheless, they may be used within a hospital environment if symptoms suggest psilocybin consumption. A blood test can detect psilocybin mushrooms in the bloodstream for around twelve hours immediately following your last use.

Procedure: Methods similar to urine testing are used to draw and analyze blood.

Saliva Tests

Testing your saliva for signs of mushrooms is less popular than other methods. Specialist saliva test panels, similar to urine analysis, can detect psilocin in your circulatory system for twenty-four hours.

Procedure: A small saliva sample is taken and tested in a controlled setting. This checks for the presence of psilocin. These types of tests can detect psilocin as soon as 30 minutes after consuming psilocybin mushrooms.

Hair Tests

Your hair follicles can store drug metabolites for up to 90 days after you last used a substance. Hair follicle tests can detect shrooms in your system for up to 3 months after you last used them. However, due to its higher cost and complexity, psilocybin testing uses this method less frequently.

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Supporting Your Body's Detoxification Process

How to Get Shrooms Out of Your System Faster?

Drug detox is a common topic among those ready to quit. There are many complicated or harmful techniques out there. However, the best ways to quickly remove drugs from your system are quite simple. Getting help from trained addiction treatment experts is, without a doubt, the surest way to finally break free from drug usage.

Our innovative method of treating substance abuse is available at Rolling Hills Recovery Center. You or someone you care about can begin healing from addiction with the safe and caring help of our team. If you or someone you know wants to learn how RHRC helps with addiction, please reach out to us!

Here are some things to keep in mind if you wish to clear your system of mushrooms for any reason, including drug testing concerns.

Hydration

Water is an integral part of your body’s inherent detoxifying mechanism. Your urine is a natural detoxifier, and being hydrated ensures your body always works at its best.

Here are some tips for staying hydrated:

  • Aim for 8-10 glasses of water daily: The best way to stay hydrated is to drink water regularly throughout the day. Drinking small amounts often is better for your body than consuming a lot at once.
  • Incorporate herbal teas and juice: These drinks can help your body remove toxins. They contain natural compounds that support the health of your organs.
  • Steer clear of sports drinks: Often high in sugar, sports drinks are not the best choice for hydration. Water remains the optimal option for keeping your body hydrated.

Exercise

Getting exercise might be the last thing you think about when detoxing from drugs. However, it can help you in many ways. Exercise can improve your body’s ability to process and remove toxins. It does this by increasing blood flow and metabolism.

Sweating can be helpful. You can choose any exercise you like; high-impact workouts are not for everyone. Yoga, meditation, and walking are gentle exercises. They provide the benefits of physical activity without being hard on the body.

Healthy Diet

Many people with severe drug addiction often do not focus on good nutrition. This can hurt their body’s ability to process drugs.

Fruits, vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats can help keep your body strong during this tough time. Try to eat various foodstuffs rather than fixating on one thing in particular. Opt for unprocessed foods wherever you can.

Detox Products

Many people think detox products help with recovery; nonetheless, the effectiveness of these items varies widely. Consulting a healthcare practitioner before attempting detoxification procedures is essential to guarantee safety and suitability.

To manage withdrawal symptoms from magic shrooms, some people may need medical detox. This should be supervised by an addiction treatment center. Withdrawal from psilocybin mushrooms can occur one to two days after stopping use. However, it is not as common as with other substances.

You can get help during this withdrawal phase with a medically supervised detox. This method has been shown to greatly improve your chances of a successful recovery.

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Conclusion

Many people use psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin successfully. However, there are risks associated with their use. This is especially true at high doses or when mixed with other drugs.

Adverse experiences might result in severe paranoia, anxiety, or disturbing hallucinations. Medical crises, although infrequent, are possible, especially in those with pre-existing mental disorders or those in unsafe settings.

Prolonged negative consequences may include lasting alterations in cognition or psychological suffering, especially for those vulnerable to mental health disorders. In summary, it is important to know how long psilocybin mushrooms stay in your system. This knowledge is crucial for safe use, especially if you might face a drug test. The psychedelic effects are transient; however, psilocybin residues may remain for several days.

It is critical to put your health and well-being first if you or someone you love is battling a magic mushroom addiction. We encourage you to contact Rolling Hills Recovery Center for support and guidance on your journey to recovery. You don’t have to face this alone—allow us to hold your hand through recovery.

Written By:

Geoffrey Andaria mental health writer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Mental Health Writer

About Author:

Geoffrey Andaria is an experienced mental health content writer and editor. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, Geoffrey is highly educated in freelance articles and research. Having taken courses on social work, Geoffrey is adamant about providing valuable and educational information to individuals affected by mental health and the disease of addiction.

Medically Reviewed By:

Carl Williams, medical content reviewer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Expert Contributor

About Reviewer:

Dr. Williams presently serves on the board of Directors for two non-profit service organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, Pa, and a Ph.D. with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Union Institute and University. In Cincinnati, Ohio. He is licensed to practice addictions counseling in both New Jersey and Connecticut and has a pending application as a practicing Psychologist in New Jersey.

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