Can You Overdose On Magic Mushrooms

Short Answer:

• No, not in the traditional sense.

Key Takeaways:

1. Psilocybin mushrooms are one of the most well-known Schedule 1 drug in the country.
2. Being Scheduled 1 means there is a high risk for abuse with little to no medical benefit.
3. Due to recent studies, the medical community is questioning if psilocybin should stay a schedule 1 drug, as more and more therapeutic benefits are being discovered.
4. While most users report a peaceful experience while using psilocybin mushrooms, there are also reports of bad experiences due to a psilocybin overdose.
5. An overdose means the body has ingested more of a substance than what the body can handle in one moment.
6. Based on this definition you can certainly overdose on mushrooms, but rarely does it bring life-threatening symptoms.

What are Psilocybin Mushrooms

Psilocybin Mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are a type of psilocybe cubensis that contain the psychoactive molecule psilocybin. First discovered by indigenous Latin American cultures centuries ago, they have become an increasingly popular recreational drug in recent decades.

When ingested, psilocybin in the mushrooms is converted into psilocin, which acts on serotonin receptors in the brain to produce physical and psychological effects such as altered states of consciousness, visual and auditory hallucinations, and spiritual experiences. Despite their long history of medicinal use and psychedelic phenomena, researchers are only now beginning to unlock the potential therapeutic uses of psilocybin-containing mushrooms. (If you want to learn more about check out our article HERE that goes in-depth)

What Happens When You Consume Magic Mushrooms

Taking magic mushrooms can be a very unique, and potentially overwhelming experience. On one hand, people can experience pleasant mental and physical effects, such as intense visual distortions, heightened emotions, and an increased feeling of unity with their environment. Unfortunately, however, some users also encounter the unfortunate side of mushroom drug use: “bad trips”.

These experiences are filled with anxiety, paranoia psychosis, confusion, and even frightening hallucinations that can make these bad trips more memorable than positive ones. There have also been cases of a loss of personal identity or experiencing nightmarish hallucinations. Whether you are planning on taking them or not it is wise to be aware of both the potential benefits and risks associated with taking psychedelic shrooms, so you can have a safe experience.

Short Term Effects

Taking shrooms can have a variety of short-term effects, some of which can be rather intense and disconcerting. On the physical side, people often experience an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, rapid and abnormal breathing, chills and flushing, shaking, and dilated pupils. There are also mental/emotional effects that vary from person to person but may include euphoria, a sense of relaxation, confusion, disorientation, paranoia, loss of muscle control, impaired judgment, and reduced coordination.

There are also irrational or violent behaviors known to occur as well as sensory disturbances such as a distorted sensory perception, of reality and distorted visual perception disorder, distortions and senses of time and space. In addition to all these symptoms nausea and a loss of appetite are quite common along with an altered body image characterized by an out-of-body feeling or floating sensation. Altogether it takes approximately 20-40 minutes for the effects to start being felt after ingesting the mushrooms; they will usually last between 6-8 hours.

Can You Overdose On Psilocybin Mushrooms

No, Not Like Other Fatal Drugs

Psilocybin mushrooms can certainly be consumed in unsafe amounts, leading to unpleasant and disorienting side effects. However, fundamentally, it is impossible to overdose on the chemical psilocybin within the mushrooms. If a fatal action occurs due to someone taking magic mushrooms, it is because of their actions, not because of a fatal medical reaction occurring. Therefore, while adverse reactions are not unheard of when consuming psilocybin or magic mushrooms in large doses, they are rarely fatal and the negative effects do not become immediately upon consumption, unlike some negative effects of other widely known drugs like heroin or cocaine.

Overdose Symptoms

Magic mushrooms are not typically known to cause fatal overdoses, making the accidental consumption of one too many mushrooms much less dangerous situation than with some other psychoactive substances. Thankfully, most overdoses from psychedelic drugs are comparatively mild and not fatal but can lead to some uncomfortable symptoms such as anxiety, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea/ vomiting, excessive sweating, skin flushing, delusional thinking, confusion, impaired perception of time, agitation, diarrhea, muscle weakness panic or paranoia psychosis, or even seizure.

In extremely rare cases where a large amount of psychedelic mushrooms have been consumed in a large dose in one sitting there is even a risk of comas occurring. While these matters should still be taken seriously since they can be quite unpleasant experiences for those affected by them, fortunately, there are no known long-term side effects from an overdose of mushrooms and recovery usually takes place within 24-72 hours after the ingestion.

Poisonous or Laced Mushrooms

It is crucial for anyone taking psilocybin mushrooms to be aware of the serious dangers that exist in trying to identify them. As many mushrooms look very similar and can be easily mistaken for one another, mistakes can be made when trying to differentiate between poisonous mushrooms and safe varieties.

Poisonous or laced mushrooms can be easily misidentified as beneficial, magical mushrooms. The consequences of consuming such a poisonous mushroom can be extremely serious, from intense gastrointestinal issues to an increased chance of death due to overdose mushroom poisoning. It is important that anyone looking to use mushrooms recreationally educate themselves on proper identification methods for poisonous mushrooms and always seek the advice of someone recognized in the field when trying to decipher between different types and most dangerous species of mushrooms. Due to this, purchasing them from an unknown source is not recommended.

Also as stated previously, they are still considered an illegal drug under federal law and in most states. Purchasing and consuming is still considered an illegal offense and the user should understand this and not take it lightly.

Combing With Other Drugs

Research into the psychological and physiological effects of psilocybin mushrooms has revealed that combining them with other drugs can pose a serious risk to mental health. These hallucinogenic fungi may look harmless, but studies have found that mixing them with alcohol mixing drugs, or other substances could result in unexpected reactions, with adverse consequences such as heightened levels of anxiety, confusion, and even paranoia.

Alcohol Usage

In particular with alcohol addiction, the magic mushrooms can mask some of the effects of alcohol and in return put the user at a great health risk. The user won’t know “when to say when” and keep consuming well past their body’s limit. This same effect applies to other substances and drug abuse as well. Due to combining psilocybin use with other toxic drugs, the user poses a greater risk of overdosing from the substance they are combining with. This is psychologically addictive and also a negative way of building up a tolerance due to not stopping when the user feels the effects they desire. This greatly increases the risk of an overdose in the future.

The interaction of foreign chemicals within the body can damage the brain’s natural chemistry and potentially cause permanent changes to neurological pathways. While psilocybin mushrooms may offer spiritual or recreational experiences, it’s essential to do your research first and keep safety at the forefront of your mind.

If you suffer from an addictive personality trait, it’s far better to discuss psilocybin use with a medical professional, or only seek it for therapeutic usage in a controlled environment (see our article HERE about psilocybin-assisted therapy). You should also consider avoiding the use of psychedelic drugs altogether, rather than run the risk of long-term harm by mixing them with untested drugs.

Microdosing Psilocybin

If you are looking to take psilocybin mushrooms more to help with physical or mental health issues and less for pure recreational usage, microdosing may be more interesting to you. You can enjoy the benefits of magic mushrooms without the risk of overdosing. (Check out our article HERE that goes much deeper into the topic)

The practice has been gaining popularity due to its potential to help people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other behavioral and mental illness, and issues. Microdosing these psychedelic mushrooms is nothing new but has just recently been getting attention for its ability to ease symptoms without the potent effects of full-dose “magic” mushrooms.

It involves taking a very low dose (much lower than a recreational dose – usually 1/20th) that is undetectable yet still potent enough to bring about desired results such as improved focus, clarity, and creativity without the hallucinogenic effects. There are also positive anecdotal claims related to using psilocybin microdoses for reducing chronic muscle pain, regulating mood, and improving sleep quality.

Although the exact effects vary among individuals, there is much potential in this alternative form of medicine that could revolutionize how mental health issues, addiction treatment services, and other substance abuse treatment is managed in the future.

Conclusion

When ingesting psilocybin magic mushrooms, it is important to keep a few things in mind. One rule of thumb is to not go above 3.5 grams at a time per dose. If you have a great amount of experience and know your tolerance level, you can go for higher doses, but do so with caution. Also, it’s best not to combine magic mushroom use with substances like alcohol as this can raise the risk of an overdose.

Especially if you are new to psilocybin mushroom use, only take them when you are accompanied by a sober buddy. This is very important in the event you have a bad trip or start to act erratically, your sober buddy can prevent you from hurting yourself. Also, unfamiliar or chaotic environments tend to produce a bad trip experience, especially for users new to magic mushroom use.

If you are more interested in the positive physical or mental health benefits without the worry of the negative consequences of a bad trip or being in an altered state of mind, microdosing psilocybin mushrooms may be exactly what you are looking for. Due to very little to no risk of overdosing and staying in a coherent state of mind, you do not need a sober buddy to be present and can go about your day like any other.

Following these tips can help make sure your psychedelic journey is safe and enjoyable for everyone involved. It is also very important for you to do your research on psilocybin usage as knowledge is key to having a successful experience. Taking these steps will help bring about an empowering, positive inner journey that won’t put anyone’s well-being or behavioral health in jeopardy.

Do you have any thoughts or advice on using psilocybin mushrooms? How have your experiences been with them? Looking into using psilocybin mushrooms for the first time and still have more questions? Comment below to share your experiences with the community or ask a question and we can get back to you as soon as possible!