Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms (shrooms), is metabolized quickly in the body and generally stays in your system for a relatively short time.
Duration in the Body and Detection Windows
- Effects duration: The psychoactive effects of shrooms typically last about 3 to 6 hours, peaking around 1.5 to 2 hours after ingestion
- Blood: Psilocybin and its active metabolite psilocin can be detected in blood for up to about 12 to 15 hours after ingestion, but blood tests are uncommon due to the short detection window
- Urine: Psilocybin metabolites are usually detectable in urine for 24 to 48 hours after use. In heavy or chronic users, detection may extend up to 3 days. Most routine drug tests do not screen for psilocybin, and specialized tests are rare and expensive
- Saliva: Detection in saliva is rare and limited to about 24 hours after ingestion
- Hair: Hair follicle tests can detect psilocybin metabolites for up to 90 days or longer, but such testing is uncommon due to cost and specificity
Factors Affecting Duration
- Dosage and potency of mushrooms consumed
- Frequency of use (chronic use may prolong detection)
- Individual metabolism speed
- Body mass and hydration levels
- Liver and kidney function
Summary Table of Detection Times
Test Type| Detection Window
---|---
Blood| Up to 12-15 hours
Urine| 24-48 hours (up to 72 hours heavy use)
Saliva| Up to 24 hours
Hair| Up to 90 days or longer
Overall, psilocybin is metabolized and excreted quickly, so most drug tests will not detect shrooms after about 24 hours, except for specialized hair tests which can detect use for months
. This means shrooms generally stay in your system for about 1 to 2 days, with longer detection possible in hair samples.
