From the Guidelines
Frequent use of psychedelic mushrooms can be harmful and is not recommended due to the risk of adverse effects, including psychotic events and harmful behaviors, as well as the potential for dependence. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2022 in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1, highlights the limited evidence related to psilocybin safety and efficacy, leading to a recommendation against its use outside of clinical trials. Some key points to consider include:
- The risk of psychotic events and harmful behaviors in patients who do not receive appropriate guidance throughout the treatment process
- The potential for dependence on psilocybin
- The lack of sufficient evidence to support the use of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes, with only one study of 27 participants showing improved depressive symptoms at weeks 5 and 8
- The need for healthcare providers to help prepare and guide patients through psilocybin treatment, which can last 8 to 12 hours
- The potential for misidentification of wild mushrooms, leading to poisoning, and the uncertainty of potency and potential contamination when purchasing illegally. Overall, the risks associated with frequent psilocybin use outweigh any potential benefits, and it is not recommended for recreational or therapeutic use outside of controlled clinical trials.
From the Research
Frequency of Psilocybin Use
- The provided studies do not directly address the question of whether frequent use of mushrooms is bad for someone 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, the studies suggest that psilocybin, the active ingredient in mushrooms, has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in clinical trials for psychiatric and substance-dependence conditions 2, 3, 4.
- One study reported that the effects of psilocybin are short-lived and typically wear off within 12 hours 5.
- Another study suggested that microdosing psilocybin in sub-hallucinogenic doses may be a safe and effective alternative to full doses for mood disorders 6.
Potential Risks and Adverse Effects
- The studies reported some adverse effects associated with psilocybin use, including transient nausea, headache, and anxiety 2, 3, 5.
- One study reported that psilocybin demonstrated modest increases in blood pressure and heart rate, and one participant received an antihypertensive for sustained hypertension during the psilocybin session 2.
- However, no cases of psilocybin-induced psychosis or Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder were reported in the studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Therapeutic Potential
- The studies suggest that psilocybin has therapeutic potential for psychiatric and substance-dependence conditions, including depression, anxiety, and addiction 2, 3, 4, 6.
- Psilocybin has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in individuals with cancer-related psychological discomfort, and to improve treatment-resistant depression 3.
- Microdosing psilocybin has also demonstrated benefit in mood disorders, and may offer a safe and effective alternative to full doses of psilocybin 6.