Psilocybin

What is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin comes from certain types of psilocybe mushrooms. Psilocybin is metabolized in the body to the active drug psilocyn, also present in many of the same mushrooms.

Street Title
Magic mushrooms, Mushrooms, Shrooms

How is it abused?
Psilocybin mushrooms are ingested orally. They may also be brewed as a tea or added to other foods to mask their bitter flavor.

What is its effects on the body?
The physical effects include: Nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination. The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and a psychotic-like episode also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a high dose.

What are its overdose effects?
Longer, more intense “trip” episodes, challenging experiences (physical and emotional), psychosis, and possible death.

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

Download the DEA Fact Sheet

Categories