Psilocybin mushrooms more commonly known as “shrooms” are a type of hallucinogenic fungi that change your mind. Most people ask how long shrooms stay in the body, especially those worried about drug tests or just interested in knowing how this gets metabolized in their body. If you fall into either of these camps, you’re in the right place! Let’s break this down for everyone to easily understand.
What are Shrooms?
Before I let you know how long shrooms are in your system, you must first understand what they are. Shrooms have a substance called psilocybin that causes their psychedelic effects. Psilocybin gets rapidly metabolized into psilocin when ingested. Psilocin affects the brain by altering perception, mood, and thinking. Shrooms are normally taken orally, such as in dried forms, mixed with other foods, or as teas.
Now that we have all this chit-chat, it is time to get down to business.
How Long Do Shrooms Stay in My System?
This length is dependent on a combination of variables, including your metabolic rate, dose, and the type of test. Generally, speaking:
- Blood: It is detectable for approximately 24 hours in blood. Since the drug, psilocin is a product of the metabolism of psilocybin, which breaks down relatively slowly in the blood, it does not last long in the blood test.
- Urine: Psilocybin and psilocin remain detectable in urine for up to 24 to 48 hours after taking. However, trace amounts can linger for up to a week depending on the dosage and individual level.
- Hair: Shrooms can be detected through hair follicles for up to 90 days, though this method is rarely utilized for psilocybin testing.
These time frames are just an estimate; they may differ from one person to another.
Factors That Determine the Duration Shrooms Can Be Detected in Your System
Several factors determine how long shrooms stay in your system and can be detected. Let’s discuss them in detail:
- Dosage: The more shrooms you consume, the longer they are going to stay in your body. The higher the dosage, the more the psilocybin and psilocin your body will have to process.
- Metabolism: The rate of metabolism varies among different people. Some may be quick, so they can break down substances faster and eliminate them easily. Others may be slower, which can cause them to stay a little longer in their system.
- Body Weight and Fat: The more body fat you have, the longer it can take for your body to flush out the drug. However, this is far less of an issue with shrooms compared to other drugs such as marijuana, which fat cells retain.
- Hydration and activity: Drinking plenty of water and also being active in the body can help your body flush substances out faster. Hydration and moving around ensures that the metabolism is normally flowing, thus helping in the removal of psilocybin and psilocin.
- Frequency of Use: If you consume shrooms often, they can accumulate in your body. This might cause traces of psilocybin to be detectable for longer periods than if someone uses them occasionally.
Shrooms Drug Testing
Tests for drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and opioids are somewhat more common, but shrooms-specific tests are rarely performed. In general, most standard drug tests do not check for psilocybin or psilocin; however, special tests can be ordered if there’s a reason to suspect the use of psychedelics.
Common Drug Tests
- Urine tests: These are the most common type of drug test. Though they often do not test for shrooms, specialized tests can identify psilocybin up to 24 to 48 hours after use.
- Blood tests: Psilocybin degrades very quickly in the blood, and it is only detectable for 24 hours. Blood tests are relatively rare in the detection of shrooms but may be used in specific legal or medical scenarios.
- Hair tests: While the previous section has already mentioned that psilocybin can show up in hair for up to 90 days, hair tests are extremely rare and found mostly in specific high-profile cases of law or forensic work.
How Do Shrooms Affect Health?
Apart from knowing how long shrooms last in your system, it is also important to know the effects that they bring on your health. For instance, psilocybin usually brings intense hallucinations and changes in perception. While some may describe the experience as enlightening or spiritual, others may experience anxiety or paranoia or may have a “bad trip.”
Shrooms do not induce physiologically addictive properties in one, and there are pretty weak grounds for serious psychological and brain damage if you have these medicines occasionally. When shrooms are taken, psychological and other effects would show severe panic attacks and even a confused state along with long-standing hallucinations outliving the drug itself when huge quantities or frequent usages were applied.
If you have other mental illness conditions such as depression or anxiety, the risk of it triggering or worsening is significant. Also, ensure that you are cognitive and adequately informed regarding the substance before you indulge in psychedelic use.
Precautionary Measures for Minimizing Risks
If you still decide to use shrooms, here is what you should do first:
- Low dose first: It is wise to take it in minimal amounts if you are going to take it for the first time since you won’t know how your body would react to it.
- Use in a safe setting: You should be in a calm, familiar environment, surrounded by people you trust.
- Hydrate: It helps your body process substances better; it also can help to mitigate any bad effects.
- Avoid combining substances: Combining shrooms with alcohol or other drugs will likely heighten the chances of a bad experience.
Conclusion
How long do shrooms stay in your system? In short, psilocybin and psilocin, in most standard drug tests, can be detected for about 1 to 3 days, whereas hair tests would produce positive results up to 90 days. Here, dosage, metabolism, and hydration came into action in clearing the body of the substance.
Shrooms are known for their psychedelic effects, but it’s key to know the health risks and legal issues too. If you are ever unclear or concerned, consult a healthcare professional.
Knowing how long shrooms are in your system will mean you’ll understand just what’s affecting your body. This way, you’ll be better informed and make well placed decisions regarding their use. Always remember to take care of yourself!