Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Show up on a Drug Test?

Medically Verified: 2/1/24

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All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Psilocybin mushrooms are a type of fungi that can produce psychedelic effects when eaten or brewed into a tea. There are different strains of psilocybin mushrooms, each one having a different potency. People who abuse psilocybin mushrooms also refer to them as magic mushrooms or shrooms.

When you use psilocybin mushrooms, they can alter your thinking, sensory perception, sense of time, and emotions, and cause auditory or visual hallucinations.[1] While some people have positive experiences when using shrooms, others experience scary side effects, referred to as having a “bad trip”.

If you or a loved one uses psilocybin mushrooms, you might be wondering if they show up on a drug test. While standard drug test panels do not detect shrooms, there are specialized panels that can detect them in your system.

How Long Do the Effects of Shrooms Last?

When you consume psilocybin mushrooms, the effects will begin to take place between 20 to 60 minutes after ingesting them. Exactly how long the effects take place will depend on a variety of personal factors, including how much you consume. With that being said, most people experience the effects of magic mushrooms for 4 to 6 hours after they consume them.

Factors that influence how long the effects of shrooms last include:

• The dosage you consume
• The species of psilocybin mushrooms you take
• Method of administration (i.e. eating or brewing into a tea)
• Whether you consume dried or fresh shrooms (dried shrooms are more potent)
• Your age and overall health
• How frequently do you consume shrooms
• Whether you consume additional substances like MDMA or LSD
• Your state of mind and environment when you consume the shrooms

It is important to note that while the majority of the effects of shrooms will subside after 6 hours, you can continue to experience after-effects for up to 24 hours. For example, many people report seeing traces of light or experiencing mood changes the day after consuming magic mushrooms.

Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Show Up on Standard Drug Tests?

The most commonly used drug tests are urinalysis tests, which look for the metabolites of certain drugs in your urine. Most people who conduct drug tests use a 5-panel urine test that does not include the ability to detect psilocybin mushrooms.

5-panel urine drug tests can detect the following substances:[2]

• THC (found in marijuana)
• Cocaine
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Amphetamines
• Opioids

Psilocybin mushrooms will not show up on 5, 8, 10, or 12-panel drug tests. However, there are specialized drug panels that specifically look for psilocybin in your urine, saliva, or blood.

Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Show up on Hair Tests?

The only drug test that automatically tests for psilocybin is hair tests. To explain, hair drug tests look for drug metabolites left behind in your hair follicles. These are the most extensive and accurate drug tests available, as substances enter your hair follicles through blood, sweat, and sebum.

When a hair drug test is used, they are sent off to the lab to be evaluated. In these labs, scientists have access to test for any substance you can think of, including psilocybin mushrooms.

Even further, your hair follicles can store drug metabolites for up to 90 days after you last used a substance. In other words, hair follicle tests can detect shrooms in your system for up to 3 months after you last used them.

How Long Are Shrooms Detected on Specialized Panels?

Specialized drug panels that detect shrooms look for psilocin, the metabolite of psilocybin that is left behind in your body. While psilocybin mushrooms are usually eliminated from your system within 15 hours, psilocin can remain detectable in your body for a longer period.[3]

The amount of time specialized panels can detect magic mushrooms depends on the type of test being used.

Urine

When using a specialized panel, urine drug tests can detect shrooms in your system for up to 24 hours after you last used them. This is the most common type of drug test used to detect shrooms.

Blood

Blood tests are not commonly used to detect shrooms because they provide a shorter window of detection, even when using a specialized panel. With that being said, blood tests can find psilocin in your system for up to 12 hours after you last consumed it.

Saliva

Like urine tests, specialized saliva panels can detect shrooms in your system for up to 24 hours. Even further, they can begin to detect psilocin in your system as soon as 30 minutes after you ingest them.

Find Help for Magic Mushroom Abuse

If you or a loved one abuses shrooms, it’s time to consider professional help. Long-term abuse of magic mushrooms can lead to a variety of psychological effects, including the development of psychosis or hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). Thankfully, drug rehab programs can provide you with the tools and support you need to overcome the effects of shroom abuse.

To learn more about our addiction treatment programs, contact the Carolina Center for Recovery today.

References:

1. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF): Psilocybin, Retrieved November 2023 From https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/psilocybin/
2. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): OBJECTIVE TESTING – URINE AND OTHER DRUG TESTS, Retrieved November 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920965/
3. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults, Retrieved November 2023 From https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28353056/