Psilocybin Mushrooms: It’s No Longer Just About Getting High

New research with magic mushrooms for PTSD therapy is under investigation.

Lee-Anne Hancock
3 min readAug 23, 2022

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This is a picture of numerous magic mushrooms with a purple and blue light against them over a black background.
Image by Michael M from Pixabay

Psilocybin mushrooms cause central nervous system as well as auditory and visual hallucinations. These mushrooms have effects similar to LSD.

Physical dependence doesn’t occur, but repeated use can produce tolerance.

A psilocybin trip is neurologically similar to dreaming. This was shown by doing brain imaging.

Toxic Dose

The toxic dose is variable. Toxicity in humans is generally low, and fatalities are extremely rare.

In adults, 4mg of psilocybin produces relaxation and detachment from the environment.

With 6–12mg, perception of space and time alters, and visual effects become prominent. Hallucinations become more vivid and distorted with higher doses.

Pharmacokinetics

The onset of effects can be seen as early as 10–30 minutes after ingestion and can last anywhere from 2–6 hours, depending on dose, species, and individual metabolism. In some cases, effects may last 12–24 hours.

Peak psychological effects are seen within 70–90 minutes after oral doses of 8 to 25 mg of psilocybin.

Effects

In general, euphoria, exhilaration, uncontrollable laughter, hallucinations, and time and space perception alterations begin within 10–30 minutes after ingestion and will persist for about 6 hours. Anxiety may occur, and this would be a ‘bad’ trip.

You can see dilated pupils and facial flushing.

Mild abdominal pain, nausea, and possible vomiting may occur.

Walking may be difficult due to muscle weakness, tremors, and deep tendon reflexes. Trauma has resulted in these falls. A writer could use these effects to good use with their story.

Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure are uncommon and may occur due to the nervousness of the person ingesting the magic mushrooms.

Confusion, anxiety, dizziness, headache, and impaired concentration may occur. Aggression, uncontrollable behavior, and psychiatric disturbances…

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Lee-Anne Hancock

Retired Poison Control Specialist. Now writing murder mysteries and blogging about life, family, and the fun of retirement.