How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your Body?

Magic mushrooms (or shrooms) are a type of fungus that contains a psychoactive compound called psilocybin.[1] Psychedelic mushroom use has been common in areas of the world for centuries.

People have used these types of mushrooms for religious ceremonies, medical purposes, and recreational use for many years. However, magic mushroom use can be dangerous. Some of the effects of shrooms can put people at risk of medical and mental health complications.

If you’ve found yourself wondering, “How long do shrooms stay in your system?” you’ve come to the right place. These fungi can stay in your system for up to 24 hours. That said, urine tests, blood tests, and hair tests can detect them for longer periods.

This article will explore how long shrooms stay in your system. You will learn:

• What are the effects and risks of magic mushrooms?
• How long do shrooms stay in your system?
• How long mushrooms can be detected on drug tests
• Can shrooms be eliminated from the body faster?
• Where can you find addiction treatment and recovery support?

If you or someone you love needs support to stop using shrooms, you are not alone. Contact the First Step Behavioral Health specialists to learn more about our programs or to schedule an intake appointment.

What are Shrooms?

Shrooms (magic mushrooms) are wild or cultivated mushrooms that contain psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound that can cause hallucinogenic effects.

Shrooms are illegal in most parts of the United States. However, some cities have decriminalized or legalized magic mushrooms for medicinal or recreational use.

Some of the most common effects of mushrooms include:

• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Euphoria
• Introspective or spiritual experiences
• Distortions of time, space, and reality
• Dilated pupils
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Loss of coordination

People may experience severe effects when taking shrooms, including psychosis and seizures. People may also have a “bad trip” where they become agitated, paranoid, or experience psychosis. During a bad trip, people may injure themselves or others.

People who frequently use mushrooms may develop long-term effects, including flashbacks to bad trips. They may also exhibit mental health and cognitive problems, like paranoia and memory issues.

What Are the Health Risks of Abusing Shrooms?

While psilocybin mushrooms (commonly referred to as magic mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms) are sometimes used recreationally or for their hallucinogenic effects, abusing them poses serious health risks—especially when combined with other substances.

Mental Health and Psychological Effects

Abusing shrooms can lead to psychological dependence and mental health conditions, especially in individuals with a personal or family history of psychiatric disorders. Common risks include:

• Hallucinatory effects that can persist after the drug has worn off (e.g., flashbacks)
• Mood swings, paranoia, and episodes of intense fear or panic
• Bad trips are characterized by terrifying hallucinations, loss of control, or detachment from reality
• Long-term alterations in perception or cognition
• Increased risk of psychosis in vulnerable individuals
  

Some users report lingering effects even weeks after use, such as difficulty concentrating, anxiety, or feelings of emotional blunting.

Physical and Physiological Risks

Although psilocybin is not considered physically addictive, frequent or high-dose magic mushroom use may trigger:

• Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and facial flushing
• Rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, and high blood pressure
• Loss of coordination, posing a risk of injury during altered states
• Unpredictable interactions with other drugs or addictive substances
  

Importantly, not all mushrooms are safe—mistaking poisonous mushrooms for psilocybin-containing varieties can result in life-threatening toxicity and organ failure.

Forensic Toxicological Relevance and Misuse Risks

Though shrooms have no accepted medical use under U.S. federal law, interest in their forensic toxicological relevance is growing—especially when shrooms frequently appear in cases involving drug use, psychiatric emergencies, or accidents.

Because shroom addiction can affect both mental well-being and behavior, chronic users may experience deterioration in personal relationships, work, or academic performance.

How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System?

The body metabolizes psilocybin as soon as it reaches the bloodstream. Users typically experience the effects of magic mushrooms for three to six hours. However, the psychoactive compound may remain in your body for up to 24 hours.[2]

Many factors can influence a person’s experience and how long shrooms stay in their system. These include:

• The species of mushroom
• The amount consumed
• Age
• Body composition
• How the person consumes shrooms
• If other substances are used at the same time

Routine drug tests (standard 5, 8, 10, or 12 panel tests) do not typically detect psilocybin. However, specialized tests may detect the presence of shrooms in a person’s body.[3]

How Long Do Shrooms Show Up on a Drug Test?

There are several ways to test for mushrooms in the body. Here is an overview of how long different types of drug tests may detect psilocybin and its metabolites.[4]

Urine drug tests

Urine tests are one of the most common tests because they are non-invasive and inexpensive. If a specialized test is used, urine tests can detect shrooms in urine for up to 24 hours after ingesting them. In other words, shrooms don’t stay in your system for very long.

Blood tests

Blood tests are used less frequently than urine tests because they are invasive and offer a short window of detection. That said, blood tests typically cannot detect psilocybin because they are not sensitive enough.

Saliva tests

Saliva testing is typically unable to detect psilocybin.

Hair tests

Hair follicle tests are uncommon but have the longest detection window of any drug testing. Hair follicle tests might be used to detect drugs in a potential employee’s system before offering employment. Hair testing may detect psilocybin for up to 90 days after you last ingest magic mushrooms.

If you are concerned about passing a drug test, it may be a sign that you need professional addiction treatment. Seek treatment as soon as you recognize the signs of substance abuse or addiction.

Can I Get Shrooms Out of My System Faster?

There are no reliable ways to remove shrooms from your body more quickly. Your body should eliminate most or all of the psilocybin in about 24 hours.

If you are worried about getting shrooms out of your system more quickly, it could be a sign that you need help to overcome substance abuse. Magic mushrooms don’t have a high risk for physical dependence, but long-term or heavy abuse can cause mental health, medical, and social problems.

Many people require treatment to overcome substance abuse and addiction. Treatment for magic mushroom abuse generally consists of:

• Medically supported detox programs to manage withdrawal (medications, emotional support, holistic therapies, supervision)
• Behavioral therapies
• Individual, group, and family therapy
• Relapse prevention education and coping skills

Substance abuse treatment programs provide valuable structure, support, and evidence-based therapies that can help people work toward lifelong addiction recovery. Seek treatment as soon as you recognize the signs of abuse or addiction.

Find Treatment Now

If you or someone you love abuses shrooms or other substances, seek treatment right away. Contact the intake team at First Step Behavioral Health to learn more about our treatment and recovery support programs or to schedule an intake appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can genetic factors or body mass affect how long shrooms stay in your system?

Yes. A person’s genetic makeup, body mass, and overall metabolic rate can impact the elimination half-life of psilocybin. Individuals with slower metabolism or higher body fat percentage may retain traces of psilocin (the active form) for slightly longer, although it still typically clears within 24 hours.

2. Do standard drug tests ever detect psilocybin mushrooms by mistake?

While standard drug tests (5-panel, 10-panel, etc.) don’t target psilocybin, cross-reactivity is theoretically possible but highly unlikely. False positives for psilocybin are rare. However, individuals consuming other substances simultaneously may test positive for those instead.

3. What are the psychological effects of frequent shroom use?

Using shrooms frequently can lead to long-term psychological dependence, mood disturbances, or hallucinatory flashbacks. Some people may experience lingering effects such as mood swings, intense fear, or paranoia, particularly after a bad trip or when combined with underlying mental health conditions.

4. Can consuming shrooms lead to withdrawal symptoms?

Although shrooms are not considered physically addictive, users may experience emotional withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or a drop in motivation. These effects can impact mental well-being and may require professional recovery support.

5. What’s the difference between psilocybin mushrooms and other poisonous mushrooms?

Psilocybin mushrooms are psychoactive but not typically toxic in the traditional sense. However, some poisonous mushrooms look similar and can cause serious health effects like stomach pain, organ failure, or rapid breathing. Consuming foraged mushrooms without expertise is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged.

6. Can proper hydration or detox processes shorten the detection window for shrooms?

While proper hydration supports general detoxification, it does not significantly reduce the short detection window of psilocybin. There’s no effective detox process proven to rapidly eliminate shrooms. Detection still depends on individual factors, including metabolism, mushroom species, and dose.

References:

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
2. National Institute of Health (NIH): Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance
3. Frontiers in Pharmacology: In vitro and in vivo metabolism of psilocybin’s active metabolite psilocin
4. American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Psilocybin Administration in Healthy Participants