How Long Does a Shroom Trip Last? Effects of Shrooms Abuse

The psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms, also known as “shroom trips” last for around six hours. Read more about the different treatment options for you or your loved ones struggling with magic shrooms abuse.


How Long Does a Shroom Trip Last? Effects of Shrooms Abuse

Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in specific varieties of mushrooms, also known as “shrooms” or “magic mushrooms.” How long do shroom trips last? The psychedelic effects of mushrooms, also known as “shroom trips” last for around six hours, and these substances are mostly eliminated from the body within 24 hours. After eating psilocybin-containing mushrooms, it will take 20 to 40 minutes to start feeling the effects. The effects peak at about 90 minutes to two hours after ingestion. 

The biggest risk to your health when “tripping on shrooms” is eating a poisonous mushroom by mistake. There are many types of mushrooms and some, like the fly agaric, can kill you. If you have eaten poisonous mushrooms you’ll soon know, and you’ll need to get medical help as soon as possible. Individuals who eat magic shrooms can experience a wide range of emotions. Shroom trips might feel different than somebody else’s, even if you’ve taken the same dose. Although feelings of euphoria and peace are often reported, Can you have a bad trip on shrooms? it’s also possible to have a “bad shroom trip.” During a bad trip on shrooms, you may experience paranoia and fear.

What Does a Shroom Trip Look Like?

The strength of Psilocybin mushrooms varies depending on their freshness, the season and where they grow. It’s very hard to predict the strength of Psilocybin mushrooms. For most individuals, the world appears distorted when they take magic shrooms. Colors, objects, sounds and even time can all seem very different. Some individuals get mild hallucinations, which are also called “visuals”.

Eating or smoking magic mushrooms can make you feel:

  • Very giggly
  • Euphoric
  • In awe of the people and things around you
  • Energised
  • excited

It can also make you feel:

  • Paranoid
  • Anxious
  • Panicked
  • Overwhelmed
  • Nauseous

How long does a trip on shrooms last? How you feel will be affected by how much magic shrooms you consume, your surroundings, who you’re with and how comfortable you are with them, as well as by your mood. People who consume larger doses of Psilocybin mushrooms can act unpredictably. They can laugh a lot, become fixated on certain things, be emotional or get paranoid.

Can You Have a Bad Trip on Shrooms?

Scientists have been doing a lot of research on psilocybin—the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms—to treat addiction, anxiety, and depression. But not every shroom trip is a pleasant experience, and researchers are suddenly interested in figuring out a predictive model for what happens when psychedelics take people to dark places.

A team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine surveyed 1,993 people who’d had “shrooms bad trip” (challenging psychological experiences) while on shrooms. The idea was to help evaluate their safety for therapeutic use. In an online questionnaire for recreational drug users, the participants rated their experiences, described their shroom trips, and discussed the adverse psychological and emotional after-effects. After reviewing the data, the researchers identified seven distinct qualities that bad trips share: fear, physical distress, grief, isolation, insanity, death, and paranoia.

What Causes a “Bad Shroom Trip?”

A bad shroom trip can range from experiencing mild anxiety and paranoia to having a full-scale psychedelic crisis where you go through some bothersome feelings and emotions. How long do shrooms trips last? The worst part is a bad shroom trip can last as long as a good one, which is basically six to eight hours, depending on the mushroom dosage you’ve ingested. During the bad shroom trip it feels as though time is standing still, making a bad experience even worse.

The reasons for having a bad shroom trip vary from person to person, but they can usually be traced back to the following conditions:

  • Ingesting or smoking higher doses of magic mushrooms. How much shrooms does it take to trip? Two to three grams of dried mushrooms is considered a full trip dose. Anything higher than this, and you’re court trouble, especially if you don’t have enough experience with psychedelics. 
  • Being in a negative state of mind before ingesting or smoking shrooms or during the trip.
  • Having a setting where there’s excessive stimulation.
  • Mixing psilocybin mushroom with alcohol or other drugs.
  • Taking psychedelic drugs without a trip sitter to soothe you in case things go south.
  • Not taking enough water.

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Shrooms Addiction Statistics

Psilocybin mushrooms are considered one of the most well-known psychedelics. Still, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which conducts the largest annual national survey on drug use, their use is not at all common.


0.1 %

Between 2002 and 2014, an annual average of 0.1% of people across all ages were considered to be current psychedelic users (meaning they reported use within 30 days of completing the survey).

Source: NIDA

0.7 %

In 2014, 0.3% of the 16,875 adolescent respondents (12 to 17year-olds) in the US were considered current users of psychedelics, 0.3% of the 11,643 young adult respondents (18 to 25), and 0.1% of 33,750 adult respondents aged 26 or older.

Source: NCBI

61 %

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019, in the past 12 months, 1.6% of Americans over 14 years old had used psychedelics. Of this 1.6%, 61% had used psilocybin, and 73% had used LSD.

Source: NSDUH


  Shrooms Drug Fact Sheet

What is a mushroom made of?

Although considered a vegetable, mushrooms are neither a plant nor animal food. They are a fungus containing a substance called ergosterol, similar in structure to cholesterol in animals. Ergosterol can be transformed into vitamin D with exposure to ultraviolet light.


What’s a mushroom trip like?

In moderate to high doses, mushrooms bring journeyers on a psychedelic trip that can be gentle, fun, and even mystical in its profundity. Still, it can also be challenging and full of shame or unresolved grief. 

Studies show a relationship between the mystical qualities of psilocybin and its healing potential. Psilocybin has shown promise in studies for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. It’s also been researched and shown promise for nicotine addiction, alcohol dependence, and even anxiety and depression associated with a terminal illness, sometimes called “end-of-life distress.”

Psilocybin is certainly not an escape from reality, even though it occasions such an altered state of mind. But mushrooms often offer dramatically new perspectives on one’s life or life that can help folks live more authentic and fulfilled lives moving forward.


How long do shrooms last?

The whole occasion lasts someplace between four and eight hours, averaging for most folks a six-hour trip, but it can depend on the dose and the individual. Mushrooms carry an average of about 30 to 45 minutes to start taking effect, but it could be anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours depending on how you consumed them, so don’t get fidgety or take more if you don’t feel them coming on as quickly as you’d like. It is highly suggested that you choose your dose ahead of time, use a scale to weigh your mushrooms, so you know exactly how much you’re taking, and then wait to make sure you want more.


What is its legal status in the United States?


Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

What is psilocybin?

Psilocybin is a chemical obtained from certain
types of fresh or dried mushrooms.

What is its origin?

Psilocybin mushrooms are found in Mexico,
Central America, and the United States.

What are common street names?


Common street names include:

  • Magic Mushrooms
  • Mushrooms
  • Shrooms

What are its overdose effects?

Effects of overdose include:

• Longer, more intense “trip” episodes, psychosis, and possible death

How is it abused?

Psilocybin mushrooms are ingested orally. They
may also be brewed as tea or added to other
foods to mask their bitter flavor.

Abuse of psilocybin mushrooms could also lead to poisoning if one of the many varieties of poisonous
mushrooms are incorrectly identified as a psilocybin mushroom


Side Effects of Magic Mushroom

Physical

  • Dilated Pupils
  • Drowsiness
  • Headaches
  • Increased Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and temperature
  • Lack of coordination
  • Nausea

Mental

  • Distorted sense of time, place, and reality
  • Euphoria
  • Hallucinations
  • Introspective experiences
  • Panic Reactions
  • Paranoia

How to Stop Tripping on Shrooms?

Is there a way to stop tripping on magic shrooms once it started? It’s hard to stop the trip train once it’s felt, but thankfully, there are some things you can do to get through it. Many individuals suggest that there are certain “trip-killer medications” that can bring you back to reality. Those mentioned include cigarettes, alcohol, sleeping pill, diazepam (anxiety medication), mirtazapine (an antidepressant), and quetiapine (an antipsychotic). However, aside from the fact that you might not have these particular drugs on hand, their use as “trip-killers” are anecdotal, and they’re likely to affect each person differently and more likely cause harm.

How long does a shroom trip last? Since magic mushrooms look similar to poisonous mushrooms, poisoning is yet another potential risk of taking these drugs
How long does a shroom trip last? Since magic mushrooms look similar to poisonous mushrooms, poisoning is yet another potential risk of taking these drugs

Tips on How to Stop a Bad Shrooms Trip

Here’s what you may do when you start getting ad shroom trip:

  • Stop and take a deep breath. This will help calm your nerves. If this doesn’t work, you can go further and try counting your breaths to control your breathing and heart rate.
  • Talk to somebody. It can be a friend. Their gentle voice can help soothe you and make you feel more secure. The fact that they’re sober will help you realize that what you’re going through isn’t real, and will all be over at some point.
  • Go for a walk. Being in a different place might help lift your mood. However, it shouldn’t be in a noisy place or with too much traffic.
  • Find a distraction. Switching your focus to something else when you start feeling anxious can calm your trip. You can turn on some music or look at a picture on the wall. 
  • Do some light exercises like stretching. This will ease any discomfort you might have, as well as decrease your tension and boost your mood. Also, try drinking some water.
  • Try humor. Sometimes not taking things too seriously and having a laugh at yourself about your situation helps lighten the mood. If you can’t manage a laugh, try smiling. Even a plastic smile is better than not smiling at all.
  • Give it time. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you’re not able to shake off the negative emotions of a bad trip. Your best option in such a situation may be to simply ride it out.
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What are the Effects of Taking Magic Shrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms cause psychological and physical effects. The drug is famous for causing hallucinations. It also alters the body’s involuntary processes, such as heart rate and breathing. Long-term side effects include memory problems and flashbacks.

Psychological Effects of Magic Shrooms

Magic mushrooms are notorious for causing hallucinations that cause individuals to hear, see, feel, taste or smell things that aren’t real. The experience can be positive or negative. An example of a good trip may be hallucinating that you’re on top of the world. On the other hand, a bad shroom trip may feel like a living nightmare. You may see scary things or believe someone is out to get you.

Some individuals who use psilocybin mushrooms experience “synesthesia”, which blends the senses. For example, it may cause you to see sounds or hear colors. Aggression and violence are uncommon, but these side effects do occur. Self-harm or suicide attempts are also reported to be the effects of psilocybin mushrooms.

Physical Effects of Magic Shrooms

Ingesting or smoking the wrong type of mushroom is the most significant physical risk associated with magic shroom use. Mushrooms containing psilocybin aren’t related to deadly overdoses. But people have mistaken poisonous mushrooms for psilocybin mushrooms. Other physical risks stem from the drug’s psychological effects. People who use mushrooms are at an increased risk of accidental injury. They’re also at risk of being assaulted or robbed.

Psilocybin mushrooms aren’t as famous for physical effects as they are for their psychological effects. Unlike other drugs of abuse, most hallucinogens don’t cause intense rushes or euphoria. But magic mushrooms cause increased tolerance to other drugs, such as LSD and mescaline — the drug in peyote. However, psilocybin may not be associated with physical dependence.

Ingesting Psilocybin mushrooms can cause the following physical effects:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Cramps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry mouth
  • Sweating
  • Chills
  • Numbness
  • Drowsiness
  • Pupil dilation

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Are Magic Mushrooms Addictive?

There is no clear answer as to whether Psilocybin mushroom is addictive or not because there’s no research that shows the magic mushroom is physically addictive, like heroin or some other illicit drugs. Although there has been some debate over this issue. After using psilocybin mushrooms consistently for a few days, some users may not feel addicted while others may begin to crave more of it. Psilocybin mushrooms are often mixed with other hallucinogens like LSD. For this reason, users are more likely to develop a psychological dependence on mushrooms drug rather than a physical dependence.

The severity of psychological dependence usually depends on the frequency of use and amount of shrooms someone consumed. A person abusing magic mushrooms can become dependent by believing that they need the drug to maintain a sense of enlightenment or happiness. Psilocybin mushrooms may cause psychological addiction. Some users may also experience a period of psychological withdrawal after using mushrooms drug, during which they may have trouble determining what is real and what is not.

Addicted to Mushrooms

Psilocybin mushrooms can be habit-forming, and if someone uses them often, they can develop a tolerance. This means that they will have to take increasingly larger amounts of the drug to get the same effect. Cross-tolerance with other hallucinogens such as LSD and mescaline can also happen. If a person develops a strong tolerance for psilocybin and these other hallucinogens by taking them regularly, they will reach a point where the drugs no longer cause a hallucinogenic effect unless they stop taking them for a while.

While physical addiction doesn’t occur with mushrooms, it’s possible to develop psychological withdrawal symptoms if a person stops taking the drug. To stop abusing Psilocybin mushrooms, a person who has developed a psychological addiction to them may benefit from stress management techniques. Talking with a counselor who specializes in addiction therapy may also help. Contact a reputable addiction treatment center for further guidance or recommendations.

How long does a shroom trip last? The psilocybin found in shrooms is converted to psilocin in the body and is believed to influence serotonin levels in the brain, leading to altered and unusual perceptions.
How long does a shroom trip last? The psilocybin found in shrooms is converted to psilocin in the body and is believed to influence serotonin levels in the brain, leading to altered and unusual perceptions.

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How long does a shroom trip last? A number of factors influence the effects of magic mushrooms, including dosage, age, weight, personality, emotional state, environment, and history of mental illness.
How long does a shroom trip last? A number of factors influence the effects of magic mushrooms, including dosage, age, weight, personality, emotional state, environment, and history of mental illness.

Can You Overdose on Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms have very low toxicity. Usually, 10-12mg per 1g of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. However, taking too much can increase the likelihood of a bad trip, which can be psychologically challenging. At the same time, in a minority of cases, it leads to self-harm.

Psilocybin mushroom users sometimes report psilocybin overdoses, but they usually mean very intense trips, experiences in which they didn’t just experience the synesthesia of lower doses but experienced full-fledged, and sometimes terrifying, hallucinations, and ego death.

The lethal dose of psilocybin in humans isn’t known. The median lethal dose in rats is 280mg per kilogram of body mass, one and a half times the lethal dose of caffeine. For a 60 kg (130 lb.) human to reach that concentration, they’d have to consume 37 lb. of fresh mushrooms or 3.7 lb. of dried mushrooms. Given the vomiting and nausea psilocybin mushrooms induce, that’s likely a physiologically impossible feat.

What Do Shrooms Do To Your Brain?

Even a typical dose of shrooms will impact your body. The worst impact is on your brain and heart. The result is often elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, and seizures. Shrooms have been classified by scientists as hallucinogens. This type of drug alters your perception of reality. You can have stage experiences and see, taste, and hear something nonexistent. Research shows shrooms stimulate your serotonin release and warp the neural pathways located in your prefrontal cortex. This part of your brain controls your awareness, mood, and cognitive functions.

What does shrooms do to your brain? A common shroom trip makes it appear that you are in a stupor or even unconscious. When you are unable to respond. or are lethargic, some will believe you are having an absence seizure. This is not what is happening. Your trip might be completely internal. This can result in your withdrawal from everyone and everything around you. If you mix stimulants including coke, molly, and amphetamines with shrooms, seizures become common.

Shrooms Effect on The Brain

Breathing changes from magic mushrooms may also lead to lung failure. If a person survives this, oxygen deprivation may cause lasting brain or muscle damage, requiring lifestyle changes due to a new disability. Changes in judgment, understanding of reality, muscle control, and physical coordination can all cause a person to suffer a harmful accident. Brain trauma, broken bones, or damage to other organs of the body can lead to permanent disability.

Are Shrooms Bad for Your Brain?

The primary effects of shrooms are psychological, often associated with literally expanding consciousness. However, the dramatic changes to brain state and neuron interactions can trigger long-lasting and even chronic effects. One of the most frightening effects is intense panic and paranoia. People who abuse mushrooms may experience a panic attack, feel like they are being watched, or have a break from reality that leads them to display psychotic symptoms

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Psilocybin Mushroom Abuse Treatment

One of the best ways to hinder psilocybin mushroom dependency is to stop eating mushrooms. Because they are not as powerfully addictive as many other substances, individuals with psilocybin mushroom dependencies have a higher chance of overcoming dependency.

If a person has combined magic mushrooms with other substances like benzos, alcohol, stimulants, or opioids, a medically assisted detox is needed for recovery. Medically assisted detox would help the person using multiple drugs stop further abuse and addiction to other substances before they worsen. In addition, detox would include cutting-edge medication to clean the body of harmful substances with polysubstance abuse

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There is a strong connection between mental health and mushrooms drug abuse. People who struggle with mood disorders like depression and anxiety are more susceptible to developing an addiction to drugs like shrooms, often to self-medicate symptoms of their underlying mental health condition. These co-occurring disorders can make each other worse without proper treatment.

To determine the most effective ways to treat mushrooms’ drug abuse, it’s crucial to first get an accurate assessment of all the symptoms. When the symptoms have been evaluated by a mental health professional, it may be determined that another form of mental condition is present and needs a particular type of treatment.

Medically Assisted Detox

Medically assisted detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated process of withdrawal, but it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug abuse. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy for Depression and Anxiety

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of depression including:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves making changes in both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Substance abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in a mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. In this strategy, both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend largely on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

Medication-Assisted Treatments

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use disorders and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

The development of tolerance and withdrawal are indications of addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with long-term mushrooms drug abuse and a co-occurring mental health condition such as anxiety and depression, contact one of our helpful treatment specialists today. We Level Up can provide information on dual diagnosis and detox programs that may fit your specific needs. One of the big questions for many peoples is how long do shrooms last in your system, and what are their negative effects. Call us today.

How long does a shrooms trip last? If the mushrooms were contaminated or mixed with other drugs, they may show signs of poisoning
How long does a shrooms trip last? If the mushrooms were contaminated or mixed with other drugs, they may show signs of poisoning

4 Popular “Your Brain on Shrooms” FAQs

  1. Do shrooms kill brain cells?

    Shrooms will most likely kill brain cells just like any other illicit drug. Due to the fact that the brain is 75% water, it is important to make sure that it stays hydrated.

  2. Do shrooms make your brain bleed?

    Not generally: Psilocybin mushrooms can cause hallucinations by affecting serotonin receptors in your brain, but a stroke or “brain bleed” is not likely. It is much more likely with Cocaine and amphetamine-type drugs.

  1. Do shrooms fry your brain?

    The human brain goes into full weirdo mode after a handful of shrooms. It forgets how time works.

  2. How do shrooms affect the brain?

    Some types of mushrooms, known as magic mushrooms, can produce distorted sensory perceptions when ingested. They can affect the central nervous system by mimicking the actions of some neurotransmitters.

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