Can You Develop A Tolerance To Shrooms (Psilocybin)?

Shrooms, also called magic mushrooms, are a variety of mushroom that contains psilocybin and psilocin, two chemicals that have hallucinogenic effects. Other hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), n-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and even cannabis and MDMA, share some effects with shrooms.

Drug tolerance to shrooms can develop quickly in people who take the drug regularly. In fact, studies have shown that shroom tolerance can increase after just a few days of using the drug. Prolonged and habitual use of magic mushrooms may cause an array of negative effects.

How Psilocybin Tolerance Works

When someone develops a tolerance to psilocybin mushrooms, their body requires increasingly higher doses to achieve the same psychedelic effects they experienced when they first started using the drug. The pharmacology of psilocybin is complex because it interacts with multiple systems throughout the brain, body, and nervous system, creating effects that go beyond just the hallucinations most people associate with mushroom use.

Like many other drugs including opioids and stimulants, psilocybin primarily works by interacting with 5-HT2A serotonin receptors in the brain, which are responsible for regulating mood, perception, and consciousness. After repeated use of psilocybin, these receptors become less sensitive to the drug’s effects, requiring larger amounts to stimulate the same response.

Factors That Affect Psilocybin Tolerance

Many factors can affect how high someone’s tolerance to psilocybin is. Most importantly, how often and how heavily someone uses the drug will affect tolerance. Heavy use of psilocybin is not the only drug that can increase tolerance to shrooms. Ingestion of other hallucinogens, including LSD, can also increase tolerance to shrooms.

This phenomenon is called “cross-tolerance”. The effects of hallucinogens across the board might be lessened by taking another hallucinogen. Other factors that affect psilocybin tolerance include age, weight, and health, as well as genetics. In general, heavier, younger, and healthier people will have a higher shroom tolerance.

How Long Shrooms Stay In The Body May Affect Tolerance

Psilocybin mushrooms stay in the body for a short period of time compared to many other drugs, with the kidneys and other filtering systems clearing the substance from the body within about 24 hours after use. However, when someone takes larger doses of mushrooms, the drug may remain in their system for a longer period, and the psychedelic effects can continue to be felt for several additional hours.

When psilocybin stays in the body longer due to higher doses, it can contribute to increased tolerance development because the brain’s serotonin receptors are exposed to the drug for extended periods. This prolonged exposure, combined with the fact that larger doses require more of the drug to achieve effects, creates a cycle where people need higher amounts to have the same psychedelic experiences.

Risks Of Psilocybin Tolerance

A high tolerance to psilocybin means you need to take more of the drug to feel its effects. This can be dangerous, since high doses of shrooms are most likely to lead to negative effects.

Bad Trips

One risk of high tolerance to shrooms is having “bad trips”. This is when someone has a very traumatizing experience on shrooms that may resemble temporary psychosis.

A bad trip may include side effects like increased heart rate and flashbacks to traumatizing memories in one’s life.

Hallucinogen-Induced Persisting Perception Disorder

Another risk of high psilocybin tolerance is hallucinogen-induced persisting perception disorder. This disorder is rare but can occur in people after taking large doses of shrooms or other hallucinogens.

It is characterized by continued hallucinations and changes in perception similar to those that happen commonly during a shroom trip. These can last for days, weeks, or even permanently.

Psychosis

Large doses of psilocybin also have the potential to induce psychosis. Long-term psychosis can occur in people who use shrooms, especially those who take a large dose and have a bad trip.

Signs Of Shroom Abuse

While psilocybin mushrooms are not considered physically addictive, psychological dependence can develop with regular use. Signs that use may have become problematic include needing higher doses to feel the same effects, continuing to use despite experiencing negative psychological effects like anxiety or paranoia, and feeling unable to manage emotions without the drug.

Withdrawing from friends and family, neglecting responsibilities, and spending significant time obtaining and using shrooms are also red flags worth taking seriously. Because high doses carry a real risk of triggering psychosis or hallucinogen-induced persisting perception disorder, escalating use should never be ignored.

Treatment Options For Psilocybin Use

Psilocybin is becoming more popular in many states as a treatment for different mental health conditions. Techniques like “microdosing” are being used to treat everything from PTSD to anxiety. Shrooms are still a very dangerous drug that are federally illegal and are not safe to use at any dose.

People can become reliant on shrooms and abuse them, increasing their tolerance and raising the chances for a bad trip. Treatment options for psilocybin abuse include psychiatry interventions, behavioral therapy, and more. Inpatient care is often the most effective start to addiction treatment. This may last 30 to 90 days, followed by an outpatient program where people can receive ongoing support.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can provide you or your loved one with more information about addiction recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff