How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System

Magic mushrooms, or “shrooms,” have long been a topic of fascination and discussion due to their hallucinogenic properties. But when it comes to understanding how long they stay in your system—and whether they’ll show up on a drug test—it’s essential to look at the science and facts. Here’s a friendly guide to clear up the confusion and provide insights. 

Key Takeaways on Shrooms and Drug Testing

When consumed, shrooms need to pass through the digestive system before their effects are felt. Typically, users begin to experience the effects within 30 minutes to an hour after ingestion. These effects can last up to six hours, during which users may encounter a range of experiences from visual distortions to profound emotional insights.

Standard Drug Tests Don’t Detect Shrooms

Most common drug tests, such as the five-panel test, focus on substances like THC, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, and opioids. Shrooms and their active compounds (psilocybin and psilocin) are not part of this standard.

Specialized tests for shrooms are rare, expensive, and generally require explicit requests.

How the Body Processes Shrooms

After ingestion, psilocybin converts into psilocin in the liver. Psilocin is responsible for the psychoactive effects and is excreted primarily through urine.

About two-thirds of psilocin is removed from the body within the first three hours, with most traces gone within 24 hours.

Types of drug tests and their panels

• Five-Panel Test: The most commonly used test—does not include shrooms.
• Nine, Ten, Eleven, or Twelve-Panel Tests: While these include additional substances like MDMA or benzodiazepines, they still generally exclude psilocybin and psilocin.
• Specialized Tests: Must be ordered explicitly to detect psychedelics and are uncommon due to cost and low demand.

Duration of Shrooms in the System

The presence of psilocybin in the body varies based on individual metabolism and the type of drug test used:

• Urine Tests: Detect shrooms within 24 hours.
• Hair Follicle Tests: Can trace psilocybin for up to three months.
• Saliva Tests: Shrooms are not detectable in saliva.

Detection Methods for Shrooms

Urine Testing

• Urine is the most common sample type for drug tests. However, magic mushroom metabolites (psilocin) are nearly undetectable after 24 hours for most individuals.
• Factors such as kidney health may influence detection times.

Urine tests are the most common type of drug test, used for pre-employment screenings, workplace testing, and legal situations. Since the kidneys play a key role in filtering and excreting psilocin, the majority of the compound leaves the body through urine. Research suggests that psilocin is nearly undetectable in urine after 24 hours. However, this varies based on metabolism, hydration levels, and kidney function. Individuals with impaired kidney function may retain traces of psilocin longer.

Despite the reliability of urine tests for many substances, they rarely check for psilocybin or psilocin. Standard five-panel drug tests—the most commonly used—only screen for THC, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, and opioids. Even more extensive nine- or ten-panel tests do not typically include psilocybin, making it highly unlikely that shrooms will be detected through a routine urine test.

Blood and Saliva Testing

• These methods are even less likely to detect shrooms due to their short detection windows.
• Most psilocin leaves the bloodstream within 6 to 12 hours, making it almost irrelevant for standard tests.

Blood and saliva tests have an even shorter detection window compared to urine tests. Psilocybin is rapidly metabolized into psilocin, which is then filtered out by the kidneys. Because of this, blood and saliva tests would only detect psilocin within a few hours after ingestion. The detection window for these tests is estimated to be around 6 to 12 hours post-consumption.

Due to the rapid clearance of psilocin from the bloodstream, blood and saliva tests are rarely used to detect shrooms. These tests are typically administered in medical or forensic settings when there is an immediate need to determine recent drug use. However, unless a test is conducted within a few hours of ingestion, it is unlikely to find traces of psilocin in the blood or saliva.

Hair Testing

• Hair follicle tests can retain evidence of drug use for up to 90 days. However, testing for shrooms specifically is extremely rare.

Hair follicle tests have the longest detection window for drugs, as substances can become embedded in hair strands for up to 90 days. While it is technically possible to detect psilocybin use through a hair test, it is extremely uncommon.

Most drug panels do not include psilocybin, and ordering a test specifically for psilocybin metabolites is both expensive and rare. Hair testing is typically used for detecting long-term drug use, and it is most commonly employed for substances like amphetamines, opiates, and THC. Given the rarity of psilocybin testing, individuals who have taken shrooms have little reason to worry about detection through hair analysis.

Detection Time Table

Factors Affecting Detection Times

• Dosage and Type: Larger amounts and certain species of shrooms may linger longer in the system.
• Consumption Method: Fresh or dried shrooms and whether they’re eaten or brewed as tea can alter metabolization rates.
• Metabolism: Individual metabolic rates significantly influence how quickly substances are processed and excreted.
• Co-ingestion: Taking shrooms alongside other substances may affect detection.

If you’re concerned about drug tests:

1. Urinalysis: Waiting a week is generally a safe window.
2. Hair Tests: You may need to wait about three months to ensure no detectable traces remain.

The Rise of Chocolate Mushrooms

To counteract the earthy, “dirt-like” taste of raw shrooms, many users opt to mix them with chocolate or brew them into teas. While this method improves palatability, it can lead to accidental overconsumption, as it becomes harder to gauge dosage. Moreover, psilocybin chocolate may be mistaken for regular chocolate, posing risks, especially in unsupervised environments.

Though psilocybin is not universally classified as addictive, some individuals may develop a mental dependence on its effects. Chronic use can lead to issues like persistent cravings or psychological detachment. Awareness and caution are critical for those using shrooms recreationally or in therapeutic settings.

Conclusion

For most people, psilocybin and its metabolite psilocin clear out of the body within 24 hours, especially when it comes to urine, blood, and saliva tests. Hair follicle tests have a much longer detection window, but testing for psilocybin through hair analysis is highly uncommon. Standard drug tests do not include psilocybin, and a specialized test would need to be ordered separately. If someone is concerned about being tested specifically for psilocybin, the best approach is to allow sufficient time for the body to naturally clear the substance.

Psilocybin mushrooms hold a unique position in the world of psychoactive substances. While they offer a profound exploration of consciousness for many, it’s essential to approach their use responsibly, considering the potential psychological effects and risks of dependence. For those seeking to break free from habitual use, resources and support systems like specialized treatment centers are available to help navigate the journey toward a balanced and healthy life.

Read more:

• Grow Your Own Mushrooms with Premium Mushroom Liquid Cultures
• What is Microdosing? The Science, Benefits, and Controversy of Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms
• Liquid Culture vs. Spore Syringe: the Key Differences
• How to Grow Mushrooms at Home: Tents, Grow Bags, and Mono Tubs