How Long Do Shrooms Last and Tips To Manage It?

Shrooms, or magic mushrooms, are fungi containing psilocybin. This compound is responsible for the mind-altering effects from taking them. Typically, the effects kick in around 30 minutes after consumption and will last anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. There are various factors that can change this, but this is most common.

The duration and intensity of a psychedelic trip are influenced mostly by the type of shroom and the dose ingested. Some factors like how shrooms are ingested can play a part as well, with strategies like Lemon Tek being one of the most common ways of increasing intensity.

How Long Do Shrooms Last

Most individuals feel the effects of psilocybin, the active compound in shrooms, for up to six hours after consumption.

How long it takes for shrooms to kick in can depend on several factors. These range from the dosage consumed, the specific strain of the mushroom, an individual’s unique physiological makeup, and even the method of ingestion. Let’s dive into each of these.

Dosage

A primary determinant for a trip’s length is the quantity of psilocybin contained in the magic mushrooms. A higher dose results in a longer-lasting effect. Dried mushrooms are the easiest way to measure accurately vs fresh mushrooms.

Here’s a table summarizing dried weight shrooms dosage effects and ranges:

Note: The table above is for educational purposes only. Please carefully consider before choosing to alter your consciousness.

Strain

Like any other species of fungi or plants, different kinds of magic mushrooms contain varying amounts of psilocybin. Some strains are just naturally more potent than others.

As an example, Penis Envy is a much more potent strain than Golden Teachers. Golden Teachers are an excellent beginner strain because of their milder potency.

Individual Physiology

There is debate on currently available research how much physiology, like weight, play into a trip’s effects. However, the time the shrooms will spend in your system are affected by age, body composition, and tolerance. Every person’s body metabolizes substances differently, and the same holds true for psilocybin.

Using shrooms frequently will reduce their effects significantly, as the body quickly builds a tolerance to them.

Method of Consumption

The method of consumption can also affect the duration and intensity of magic mushroom effects. Shrooms can be ingested in several ways—they can be eaten raw, dried, made into teas, mixed with food or drink, or even encapsulated.

However, be aware that the method of consumption not only influences the onset but also the length of the psychedelic experience. For instance, consuming shrooms on an empty stomach can lead to quicker absorption and a faster onset of effects. On the other hand, those who ingest shrooms after eating a meal could notice a delay before the effects kick in, potentially leading to longer, but less intense trips.

Duration of Shrooms Trip

Understanding the timeline of a shrooms trip can lead to a safer, more predictable journey because each phase is unique. Here is a simple chart to reference when looking at a shroom trip:

Onset

After ingesting magic mushrooms, you will typically start to feel the effects within 20 to 60 minutes. This is when the body metabolizes the active compounds in the shrooms, converting them into psilocin. During this time, heightened sensory perceptions, euphoria, and a profound sense of interconnectedness with the surroundings often appear.

It’s extremely common to feel sick, anxious, or both during the onset. This is normal. It can help to eat a banana, some dark chocolate, or even ginger to ease the come up.

Peak Experience

The zenith usually begins 1 to 2 hours after consumption. The peak experience is when you will encounter the most intense, immersive aspects of their psychedelic journey. Again, factors such as the type and potency of the shrooms, dosage, and individual factors (metabolism, body mass, etc.) will influence what you feel.

Come Down

After the peak, the effects of the magic mushrooms start to decline. You will start to return to normal but may have lingering effects. The come down happens three to six hours after the onset.

After Effects of Shroom Use

There’s a tenacious lingering curiosity about the realm of psychedelic experiences, especially with substances such as magic mushrooms, popularly known as shrooms. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of shrooms, particularly their short-term and long-term impacts, is crucial, whether it’s out of general interest or a necessity for mental validation.

Short-Term Effects of Shrooms

Taking shrooms can cause short-term effects such as:

• euphoric or happy
• altered perception
• visual and auditory hallucinations
• altered thoughts or mood
• increased or slowed heart rate
• headache
• raised body temperature
• rapid breathing
• nausea
• vomiting
• sweating
• chills
• facial flushing
• dilation of the pupils

Long-Term Effects of Shrooms

Magic mushrooms have traditionally been linked with spiritual and religious practices, particularly in certain cultures within Central and South America. Shrooms’ ability to create a bridge to higher power or foster a strengthened sense of purpose and meaning set them apart. It’s not uncommon to find people continuing to experience the impact of shrooms for extended durations. Some report a subtle afterglow even a day later.

Ongoing research has pointed out potential therapeutic benefits of shrooms for mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Tips for Changing the Duration of Shroom Effects

Here we’ll outline some useful tips to help you understand the ways to potentially extend or reduce the length of shroom effects.

Tolerance

The body develops a rapid tolerance to magic mushrooms, particularly when consumed regularly over several days. Even a short-term tolerance can form if another trip is embarked upon too quickly after the first.

For this reason, it’s been to space out your use of shrooms. If you are taking a medium dose or more, it’s generally thought to wait 2+ weeks to let your body reset.

If you are microdosing, two popular methods are the Fadiman protocol and the Statmets Stack.

Lemon Tek

Lemon Tek involves grinding dried shrooms into a powder and soaking it in lemon juice before consumption.

The theory behind Lemon Tek is that the citric acid in the lemon kickstarts the conversion of psilocybin into psilocin—the psychedelic compound responsible for magic mushroom effects. This pre-digestive process leads to a faster onset of effects and more intense experience. The overall trip will likely feel shorter because of this.

Legality of Shrooms

It’s important to note that shrooms are illegal at the federal level. Some states and cities, like Ann Arbor Michigan, have started to decriminalize their use.