Psilocybin (Psilocybin (from psilocybin mushrooms))
The main psychedelic compound in "magic mushrooms," studied for depression, anxiety, addiction and end-of-life distress. In supervised sessions it can produce a profound shift in perspective that many people find long-lasting.
How it works
Converted in the body to psilocin, which activates serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the brain. This temporarily loosens rigid thinking patterns and increases connectivity between brain networks.
Key facts
- Molecular weight: 284.25 g/mol
- Half-life: ~2-3 hours (psilocin)
- Bioavailability: Oral
- Storage: Research/clinical settings only.
Dosing overview
- Typical dose: 10-30 mg in clinical trials
- Frequency: One to a few supervised sessions
- Duration: Acute effects last 4-6 hours
- Route: Oral, in a supervised therapeutic setting
Protocol notes
- In trials, a person swallows a measured dose, then lies down with eyeshades and music while a trained guide stays nearby.
- The session lasts several hours and is bookended by preparation and "integration" talks to make sense of the experience.
- Some people microdose (tiny sub-perceptual amounts every few days), though evidence for microdosing is weak.
- Traditionally, dried mushrooms are eaten or brewed as tea, where dose is much harder to judge.
Reported benefits
- Studied for treatment-resistant depression
- Eases anxiety in life-threatening illness
- Explored for alcohol and tobacco addiction
- Often produces durable improvements after few doses
Possible side effects
- Anxiety or fear during the experience
- Nausea
- Raised heart rate and blood pressure
- Temporary confusion
- Risk of distressing experiences without proper support
Research
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression (2022): A single 25 mg dose with psychological support significantly reduced depression scores compared with lower doses.
- Psilocybin-assisted therapy for cancer-related distress (2016): Produced rapid and sustained reductions in anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer.
Community reviews of Psilocybin
- nomad694 rated it 5/5 - Lifted the fog, but the come-up was rough: I tried psilocybin for about 10 weeks because I was burnt out from ultras, grey Irish winters, and that dull mind-fog that makes training feel like dragging a caravan uphill. For me it lifted the heavy mood nicely, but the first couple of hours were jittery and a bit too raw, which was grand once it passed.
- biohacker_derek rated it 5/5 - Quietly Took the Edge Off My Sunday Dread: I am a pharmacist in my 50s, and a few years of 60-hour weeks in the South had me waking up every Sunday with my jaw clenched and my brain already filing complaints. I tried psilocybin about six months ago, very carefully, and for me it seemed to loosen that constant hum of dread. The funny part is I didnt suddenly become a zen monk, I just stopped feeling like Monday was coming to mug me in the parking lot 🙂
- jordan_codes rated it 3/5 - Helped me reflect, but ketamine felt more useful: I tried psilocybin for about 10 weeks because I was stuck in a pretty flat rut after long clinic shifts and winter in the Midwest was doing its usual gray nonsense. For me it made a few things feel more vivid and gave me some perspective, but the effect was kind of uneven. I preferred ketamine for the same goal, honestly, because it felt more direct and less fuzzy. Psilocybin was okay, just not the one I’d pick again.
- trains_experiment rated it 5/5 - Head noise got quiet for once: For me, the biggest change was that my mind quit running circles all day. I felt calmer in training, less stuck in my own head, and that carried through about 12 weeks. I live in the South, lift heavy, work long PT days, and this just made me feel more steady 🙌
- biohacker_retired rated it 5/5 - Helped me get unstuck in a real Midwest winter: I tried psilocybin during a pretty stale stretch of grad school and pharmacist life, when winter in the Midwest had me feeling boxed in and weirdly flat. For me, it didn’t make me some mystical person, it just seemed to loosen the mental static that had been sitting on everything. After a few sessions spread out over about 6 months, I noticed I was less stuck in my own head and more willing to actually start tasks instead of circling them forever. It fit my life best on quiet weekends, since I wanted zero work or training obligations hanging over me.
- vet945 rated it 5/5 - quieter head, better training days: i tried psilocybin during a messy stretch where work, client schedules, and my own training had me feeling like my brain was buffering half the time, and for me it was a proper reset. over about 4 months, with a few carefully spaced sessions, i felt less stuck in my usual overthinking, and that spill-over into the gym and daily life was very real to me. i was calmer with people, less snappy, slept easier on some nights, and even my recovery felt a bit smoother, though that could just be the whole package changing. for me, 5 stars, steady stuff, lah.
Compare Psilocybin
Research and educational reference only. Not medical advice.