Magic mushrooms
| Synonyms |
The most common synonyms are:
- Mushrooms, Fungus, Fungus delight, Mush, Mushies, Psilocin, Psilocybin, Shrooms, Shrum, Shrums
|
| Classification |
Hallucinogen:
- Causes users to see, hear or feel things that do not exist.
|
| Visual description |
- The most common psilocybin mushroom is psilocybe. They are small, have a conical-shaped cap and are yellowish-brown to dark brown.
|
| Mechanism of action |
- Sympathomimetic action on the central nervous system.
- Agonist for several serotonergic receptors.
|
| Routes of administration |
- Ingested (fresh, dried, powder or capsules), occasionally snorted or smoked.
|
Effects sought out by the user
- Altered colour perceptions
- Euphoria
- Feeling of heaviness or lightness
- Feeling of relaxation or fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Inappropriate laughing
- Loss of touch with reality
Common toxic effects
- Agitation
- Dilated pupils
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Loss of coordination
- Muscle weakness and involuntary contractions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness, particularly facial numbness
- Sweating and increased body temperature accompanied by chills and shivering
- Urinary incontinence
Overdose effects
Overdose is common and can lead to serious consequences. Some of them are not caused by physical symptoms due to magic mushrooms, but rather by the psychosis.
- Abdominal discomfort
- Anxiety
- Convulsions (particularly in children)
- Death
- Dizziness
- Flushing, sweating
- Nausea, vomiting
- Paranoia
- Unpleasant perceptual distortions
Effects associated with chronic use
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Dilated pupils
- Disorientation
- Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder
- Hyperflexion
- Increased blood pressure
- Loss of muscle control
- Nausea and vomiting
- Psychosis (similar to paranoid schizophrenia)
- Skin redness
- Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
- Tremor
- Uneasiness
Tolerance (need to increase the dose to feel the same effect)
Strong and quick.
Addiction
No, psilocybin does not cause physical dependance. However, as with any hallucinogen, excessive and/or frequent use can lead to psychological dependence.
Onset and duration of action
Route of
administration |
Onset of
action |
Peak
|
Duration of
action |
| Oral (empty stomach) |
About 30 minutes |
2 hours |
4 to 6 hours |
| Sublingual (dried mushrooms that are chewed and left under the tongue) |
15 to 150 minutes |
2 hours |
4 to 6 hours |
Screening
- Hair: Can be detected between 3 to 5 months after use.
- Urine and blood: Psilocybin can be detected in subjects up to 7 days after use.
Intoxication management
- No antidote available.
- Treatment is mainly symptomatic.
Other useful information
- The term "magic mushrooms" is used to describe several species of mushrooms that contain psilocybin and psilocin, the two substances primarily responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of mushrooms.
Many different street drugs are sold under the same name.
Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.
If you need help or want to learn more:
Partnership for a Drug-Free Canada.
www.canadadrugfree.org
