How Long Do Magic Mushrooms Stay in Your System?

Magic mushrooms are a type of fungus that contains a natural compound called psilocybin. When someone eats these mushrooms, the psilocybin turns into another substance called psilocin inside the body. Psilocin is what causes the changes in how people think, feel, and see the world.

Even though some places in the U.S. and Canada are exploring ways to allow medical use, psilocybin is still illegal at the national level in both countries. This article will help you understand how psilocybin works in the body, how long it can be found in different types of drug tests, and what factors affect how long it stays in your system.

How Psilocybin Works in the Body

When someone eats magic mushrooms, the body changes psilocybin into psilocin quickly. Psilocin then connects with parts of the brain that control mood and thoughts. This is why people may feel more creative, emotional, or experience visual effects after taking mushrooms. The effects usually start within 30 minutes and last between 3 to 6 hours.

What is a Half-Life?

The body doesn’t hold on to psilocin for long. Scientists use something called a “half-life” to measure how quickly a drug leaves the body. A half-life is the time it takes for half the amount of a substance to be removed. Psilocin has a short half-life of about 50 minutes to 3 hours. This means the body gets rid of most of the psilocin in just a few hours.

How Long Can Psilocybin Be Detected?

Let’s look at how long psilocybin or psilocin can be found in different drug tests:

• Urine tests: Psilocin can usually be found in urine for up to 24 hours, though in some cases it might last 48 hours.
• Blood tests: Psilocin shows up in the blood for only a few hours, usually no more than 12 to 15 hours.
• Saliva tests: These only work for a short time, maybe up to 12 to 24 hours.
• Hair follicle tests: These can show use up to 90 days later, but are rare and costly.
• Fingernail tests: These may show evidence for up to six months, but are mostly used in legal cases or research.

What Affects Detection Time?

Many things can change how long psilocybin stays in your system:

• How much was taken: Larger amounts take longer to break down.
• Type of mushroom: Some kinds have more psilocybin than others.
• How often it is used: Frequent use may take longer to clear.
• Body type and health: Age, body fat, and how well the liver and kidneys work all matter.
• Metabolism: Faster metabolism clears psilocin more quickly.
• How it was taken: Eating dried mushrooms, tea, or edibles may change how fast it works.
• Hydration: Drinking water may help the body get rid of it more efficiently.

Do Drug Tests Look for Psilocybin?

Even though magic mushrooms are powerful, they usually don’t stay in your body very long. More importantly, most regular drug tests do not look for psilocybin or psilocin. The 5-panel or 10-panel tests, which many employers use, focus on drugs like marijuana, cocaine, or opioids, not psychedelics. If someone wanted to test for mushrooms, they would have to order a special and expensive test.

How Long Do Magic Mushrooms Last?

The effects of psilocybin wear off in a few hours, and most of it leaves the body within 24 hours. It’s rare for it to be detected unless a specific test is used shortly after use. Still, there are many things that affect how long it stays in your system, so no one can give a perfect answer.

Because psilocybin isn’t part of most routine drug tests, people are often surprised to learn that detection depends more on the type of test used than the amount taken. Blood and urine tests need to be done within hours, while hair or nail tests are rare and usually only used in legal or research settings. If there’s any concern about testing, it’s important to know what kind of test is being used and whether it even includes psilocybin as a target substance.