Psilocin (4-Hydroxy-DMT (active form of psilocybin))
The active compound that psilocybin turns into in the body. It is what actually produces the effects of magic mushrooms, and is studied for the same depression and anxiety uses as psilocybin.
How it works
Directly activates serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Psilocybin is a "prodrug" that the body converts into psilocin.
Key facts
- Molecular weight: 204.27 g/mol
- Half-life: ~1-3 hours
- Bioavailability: Oral
- Storage: Research/reference only.
Dosing overview
- Typical dose: Varies by individual and setting
- Frequency: Occasional
- Duration: Acute effects last 3-6 hours
- Route: Oral
Protocol notes
- Behaves like psilocybin since psilocybin turns into psilocin in the body; taken orally and felt within 20-40 minutes.
- Used in the same lie-down, eyeshades-and-music format as psilocybin in research.
- Rarely handled on its own outside labs because it is less stable than psilocybin.
Reported benefits
- The active form behind psilocybin
- Studied for depression and anxiety
- Faster onset than psilocybin
- Classic serotonergic psychedelic
Possible side effects
- Anxiety or fear
- Nausea
- Raised heart rate and blood pressure
- Temporary confusion
Community reviews of Psilocin
- nomad694 rated it 3/5 - Faster than psilocybin, but less useful for me: I tried psilocin for about 10 weeks because I’m always poking at recovery and headspace stuff around long blocks of training, and with the grey Irish weather and endless miles I was curious if the quicker onset would suit me better than psilocybin. For me it came on cleaner and faster, which was handy, but the overall benefit felt only moderate. I actually preferred psilocybin, as it seemed to give me a bit more depth and carry-through afterwards, fair play.
- practical_runs rated it 5/5 - Faster reset, better coaching headspace: As a CrossFit coach in the Netherlands, my days are full of noise, people, and constant decisions, so I tried psilocin for the mental reset more than anything else. Over about 3 months, it seemed to fit my life better than I expected because the onset was quicker and the window felt easier to work around than psilocybin itself. For me it gave a very clean pause in the usual mental clutter, and the next day I was more patient with athletes and less stuck in my own head. Could just be my own experience, but it felt genuinely useful.
- tracker968 rated it 5/5 - Fast reset, a little too loud sometimes: As a trainer on the East Coast juggling early clients and my own head, psilocin felt like it cut through the mental fog for me over about 10 weeks. I slept a bit lighter the nights after, and sometimes my stomach felt weird on the come-up. Still a 5 from me.
- wes149 rated it 4/5 - Clearer head, less mental noise in the Midwest winter: For me, the biggest change was how much quieter my head felt. I ran psilocin for about 3 weeks, and it seemed to help me step back from my own nonsense for a bit, which was nice after years as a firefighter. Small caveat, it felt a little intense on some days...
- zoe_rows rated it 5/5 - Faster reset than I expected, honestly: I ran psilocin for about 3 weeks while I was grinding through code, training, and a pretty stale headspace here on the East Coast. To be fair, I wanted the faster onset because I do not have patience for waiting around like it is 1998. For me, it seemed to cut through the mental fog way quicker than psilocybin and gave me this cleaner, more usable window for thinking and reflecting. I felt steadier afterward, less stuck in my own loop. That is just my experience, not medical fact. I gave it 5 stars because it actually moved the needle for me.
- scientist_maya rated it 5/5 - Took the edge off my anxious Sunday scaries: I was dreading every Sunday night, which is pretty rude when you already work in pharmacy and spend all day telling other people to stay calm. Over about 8 weeks, psilocin seemed to break that loop for me. The first time I noticed it, I woke up Monday in Queens and my chest did not do the usual tiny panic drum solo. It felt like my brain stopped grabbing the same bad thought and shaking it 🔥
Compare Psilocin
Community discussions about Psilocin
Research and educational reference only. Not medical advice.