For relaxation and wellness, many people turn to nature by going on hikes, relaxing by bodies of water, or taking time to sit in gardens. Others rely solely on organic substances to have a mind-altering experience, with psilocybin mushrooms being their preferred option. When people take mushrooms for the first time, the experience is frequently unique and can quickly turn anxious. Additionally, they might be surprised into taking more than they intended or unsatisfied with the results, which would prompt them to take more, which would result in a dreadful experience.

There are numerous stories of mushroom trips gone wrong, frequently because the users were unaware of how long the mushrooms took to start working. Additionally, it’s critical to understand how mushrooms function, any potential side effects, and the consequences of continued abuse. What you should know about mushrooms is given below.

What Are Shrooms (Magic Mushrooms)?

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring hallucinogen, and psychoactive substance are present in these mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms. Although they have also been grown for their psychedelic effects, they are typically found in the wild. Because many poisonous mushrooms resemble magic mushrooms, it’s important to note that it’s best to avoid picking them out in the wild.

Shrooms don’t taste like the culinary mushrooms that some people assume they do, though. They are extremely chewy and have a very rubbery texture. Additionally, they have an unpleasant, earthy flavor, so many people prefer to mask it by brewing tea with them or cooking them.

As a Schedule, I substance with a high potential for abuse, mushrooms, one of the most well-known psychedelics, are also a gateway drug. As of this writing, shrooms have no approved medical applications in therapeutic settings.

How Long Does It Take for Shrooms to Kick In?

After consumption, magic mushrooms or shrooms can take 20 to 40 minutes to start working. By that time, the psilocybin in the mushrooms will have been converted into psilocin, a substance that affects the brain’s serotonin neurotransmitter.

The majority of shrooms’ effects are felt in the first six hours after use, peaking at about 90 minutes to two hours after ingestion. The kidneys will remove the metabolite psilocin during this time. Generally, shrooms wear off in 6 to 12 hours, though most people report feeling effects until they sleep, in addition to a “glow” the following day.

Although shrooms are generally associated with euphoria and other desirable side effects, they can also produce adverse highs referred to as “bad trips.” During a bad trip from mushrooms, the person may experience side effects like:

• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Panic
• Fear
• Unpleasant and intense hallucinations

If a user consumes doses that are high in psilocybin, they run the risk of overdosing on mushrooms. Users may also experience a comedown from mushrooms, which may include side effects like fatigue, depression, and anxiety as well as lingering headaches. These are the effects of the serotonin levels in the brain suddenly dropping. Additionally, this contributes to the addictive potential of mushrooms.

How Long Do Mushrooms Stay in Your System?

The amount consumed, how long a person has used drugs, their metabolism, and other variables all affect how long mushrooms stay in your system. A drug’s half-life, which measures how long it takes for half of it to be eliminated from the body, is another important factor in determining how long it will stay in the system.

A drug typically requires several half-lives to be completely metabolized. Psilocin, a metabolite of psilocybin or mushrooms, has an average half-life of 50 minutes. This indicates that after three hours, the kidneys have eliminated roughly two-thirds of a dose of magic mushrooms from the body.

Depending on the dose, frequency of use, age, weight, and metabolism of the individual as well as the amount taken, magic mushrooms can remain in your system for up to 15 hours in total. People who are physically more tolerant of or dependent on mushrooms may also find it more difficult to stop using them than first-timers.

What Are the Effects of Shrooms?

Although it also has long-term side effects that can change a person’s personality, mushrooms have a variety of positive physical and mental effects. Additionally, fatalities and organ damage have resulted from heavy shroom use.

When people start to feel the effects of mushrooms, their blood’s psilocybin level has increased. Common physical side effects include headaches, yawning, nausea, drowsiness, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, a heavy feeling, and an increase in body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Some people report having headaches, rapid breathing, nausea, and stomach discomfort.

Bad trips frequently involve unpleasant hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, and fear. The side effects of a shroom overdose include agitation, panic, paranoia, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, seizures, psychosis, and even coma.

Does the Amount Taken Affect How Long It Takes to Kick In?

Usually, the time it takes for mushrooms to work their magic is unrelated to how much you consume. It will start working at the same time and last for four to six hours whether you take a microdose or more. This is why, especially if you’re taking it for the first time, it’s critical to start with a low dose and increase it gradually. Even if you think the effects haven’t started, it’s best to wait until after an hour because everyone processes mushrooms differently. Don’t take the entire dose based on your friend’s experience; you can’t be sure that you’ll have the same trip they did.

As with other drugs, taking mushrooms frequently can lead to tolerance development. Although the amount of time it takes to take effect does not differ depending on whether you are an experienced tripper or a first-timer, you will eventually need to increase the dose in order to have an intense experience. A seasoned tripper will be able to recognize the effects right away, making them more likely to become aware of them than a novice. It’s best to start with a microdose if you’ve never used mushrooms before or haven’t in a while.

Conclusion

Shrooms are one of the most well-known psychedelics because of the hallucinations it causes, which distort one’s surroundings and give them a sense of being in another dimension. However, taking too much at once frequently has negative effects, leading to paranoia, unpredictable behavior, and anxiety that will greatly annoy the user. You can understand the hazards of using mushrooms and the resources at your disposal in the event that you require assistance by arming yourself with sufficient knowledge about them.