Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin or magic mushrooms are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They belong to a group of drugs known as Psychedelics because of the changes experienced to perception, mood and thought. The key ingredient found in magic mushrooms is psilocybin. When psilocybin is taken, it is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with the psychoactive properties.

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Common Names:

  • Shrooms
  • Mushies
  • Blue Meanies
  • Golden Tops

How are they used?

Magic mushrooms are eaten fresh, cooked or brewed into a tea. The dried version is sometimes smoked, mixed with cannabis or tobacco.

How do they look like?

Magic mushrooms look much like ordinary mushrooms. There are many different types of magic mushrooms. The most common ones in Ireland are called Fly-Agaric/Amanita Muscaria and Liberty Caps. Magic mushrooms look similar to poisonous mushrooms that can cause a person to become very sick and can result in death. They can also come as dried material in capsules. Synthetic psilocybin appears as a white crystalline powder that can be processed into tablets or capsules or dissolved in water.

Mixing Shrooms with other drugs

MAGIC MUSHROOMS + ICE, SPEED OR ECSTASY

Can increase the chances of a bad trip and can also lead to panic.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS + SOME PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS

Mushrooms should not be taken by people on psychiatric medications as a relapse or worsening of the condition could occur.

Side Effects of
Magic Mushrooms

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries risk.

The effects of taking Magic Mushrooms with other drugs including over-the-counter or prescribed medications can be unpredictable and dangerous.

Magic Mushrooms affects everyone differently, based on:

  • A person’s size, weight and health
  • Whether the person is used to taking it
  • Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
  • The amount taken
  • The strength of the mushroom (varies depending on the type of mushroom)
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin in 30 minutes when eaten, or within 5–10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea and can last for approximately 4–6 hours.

During this time, the person may experience:

  • Euphoria and well-being
  • Change in consciousness, mood, thought and perception (commonly called a trip)
  • Dilation of pupils
  • Perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Stomach discomfort and nausea
  • Headaches
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Increased body temperature
  • Breathing quickly
  • Vomiting
  • Facial flushes, sweating and chills

Long-term effects:

Some people who regularly use magic mushrooms may experience flashbacks. A flashback is when a magic mushroom experience reoccurs, they are usually visual distortions that involve perceptual or emotional changes. Flashbacks can occur weeks, months or even years after the drug was last taken. This can be disturbing, especially if a frightening experience or hallucination is recalled. Flashbacks can be brought on by using other drugs, stress, tiredness or exercise and usually last for a minute or two.

Bad Trips

Sometimes a person may experience the negative effects of magic mushrooms and have what is called a bad trip and may experience the following:
  • Unpleasant or intense hallucinations
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Panic or fear

Coming Down

After ingesting magic mushrooms, delayed headaches may occur, which but do not usually last for longer than a day afterward. After taking mushrooms a person may experience feelings of:
  • Exhaustion
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Dependence & Tolerance

Tolerance develops rapidly with continued use, resulting in the drug having little to no effect with continued use.

Health & Safety

The main risk involved with taking magic mushrooms is that some of them look very like certain types of poisonous mushrooms.

Overdose

If a large amount or a strong batch of mushrooms is consumed, the person may experience:
  • Agitation
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle weakness
  • Panic or paranoia
  • Psychosis
  • Seizures
  • Coma

Shrooms Overdose