Poppers
28. July 2017
SM
31. July 2017What is it?
The names mushrooms, magic mushrooms, magic mushrooms or psilos include various types of mushrooms that have a psychoactive effect. They contain the substances psilocybin or psilocin, which trigger a psychedelic (soul-revealing) and hallucinogenic effect. The average psilocybin content of dried mushrooms is 0.1 to 1% (max. 2%), depending on the mushroom species. Psilocybin is converted in the body to psilocin, which triggers the psychoactive effects in the brain.
How is it consumed?
Mushrooms are mostly eaten in fresh or dried form. They can also be drunk as tea or consumed filled in capsules. The effect of mushrooms often occurs after half an hour to two hours and lasts for about 6-8 hours.
Dried mushrooms should be dosed lower than fresh ones, as they usually have 10 times higher active ingredient content.
The active ingredient content of mushrooms depends on variety, location, weather, processing and can vary greatly even between mushrooms of the same species. This means that you can never know exactly how much active ingredient is present in a mushroom or parts of it. This makes accurate dosing difficult and increases the likelihood of unintended effects.
How does it feel?
Each substance has a different effect on each person. The effect of mushrooms depends on personal factors (body mass, habituation, ingested amount, on a full or empty stomach, …). An important role is played by the setting and your mental and physical condition.
Under the influence of mushrooms, the filter function of certain areas of the brain is opened. This allows sensory stimuli to reach the cerebral cortex and thus your consciousness unfiltered. Thus, there is a change in perception and thoughts. The boundary between reality and fantasy becomes blurred, which can lead to you experiencing the trip similar to a dream.
The perceptual changes vary greatly from person to person and are experienced and evaluated differently by people. They can cause both great joy and strong anxiety. When anxiety or unpleasant feelings arise, it can be helpful to direct thoughts to beautiful things or memories. Trips on mushrooms are described by some consumers as drastic experiences, both positive and negative.
How the high feels on mushrooms depends on the dose.
The usual effect of mushrooms is described as:
- Perceptual changes (vision, hearing, smelling, tasting)
- Change of the sexual experience
- mild to severe hallucinations
- Changes in sense of place and time
- Warmth and tingling in the body
- increased drive, need to move around
- laughing
- feeling connected to other people and nature
Depending on the dose, trips can vary in intensity. You can find a rough classification here:
- 3 – 4 mg psilocybin: weak physical and psychological effect
- 5 – 10 mg psilocybin: [Pseudo]hallucinations with eyes closed, e.g., in the form of rapidly changing geometric patterns.
- 10 – 20 mg psilocybin: : [pseudo]open-eye hallucinations.
- 20 mg psilocybin: severe alterations of consciousness, disturbances of balance and orientation (dancing is hardly possible at this dosage)
- 60 – 100 mg psilocybin: very high dose, used (in the past) in certain forms of psychotherapy.
Side and longterm effects
Mushrooms can cause physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, balance disorders, increased heartbeat and blood pressure. Physical symptoms and/or altered perception of the environment can trigger anxiety, which is amplified due to the hallucinogenic effect. If you take mushrooms regularly and for a long period of time, side effects will become more prominent.
Consuming mushrooms can bring up repressed thoughts or experiences.
Paranoid thoughts and panic attacks may occur (so-called “horror trip”). After consumption, it may be difficult to return to reality. You may develop a long-term mental disorder after using mushrooms. The use of mushrooms can also activate psychoses that already exist subliminally.
Persistent perceptual disorders following the use of hallucinogens (HPPD; Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder) can last for months to years and severely affect people’s lives.
After repeated consumption over a few days, a habituation effect forms. This means that the effect becomes weaker or disappears completely. The habituation effect is usually reversed if you do not use for a week.
Overdose
The active ingredient content of mushrooms depends on the variety, where it was found, weather, processing and can vary greatly even between mushrooms of the same species. This means that you can never know how much active ingredient is present in a mushroom or parts of it. This makes accurate dosing difficult and increases the likelihood of unintended effects.
A high dose makes the occurrence of unpleasant side effects, especially psychological, more likely. It is possible that a permanent mental disorder may develop as a result of the mushroom trip.
In case of persistent indisposition, get medical help. If you find an unconscious person, check if the person is breathing, give first aid and call an ambulance (112).
You can find more info about drug emergencies here. You can also contact the following agencies:
Drug emergency phone: 01806 313031 (24 hours)
Drug emergency service: 030 19237 (24 hours)
mixing substances
In general, taking several substances at the same time puts more strain on your body and psyche. Individual effects can be intensified, weakened or delayed. The probability of overdose or side effects is not calculable.
- Mushrooms + alcohol: increases the likelihood of nausea, vomiting, circulatory problems, fainting.
- Mushrooms + cannabis: increases hallucinogenic effect. May cause circulatory problems and fainting.
- Mushrooms + MDMA, Speed or Crystal: strong increase in body temperature. The nerve-damaging property of amphetamines is increased.
Potential addiction and withdrawl
The active ingredients of mushrooms do not cause physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms. The probability of developing psychological dependence is also low.
Safer Use
The high starts about 30-60 minutes after taking the drug. In some cases, e.g. if you have eaten something before, it can take up to 2 hours before you notice the effect. Wait for the effect and do not refill to avoid overdose.
Dose low. Mushrooms have natural variations in active ingredient. It is impossible to determine how much active ingredient is contained.
Always measure your dose yourself. Do not pass on the responsibility for this to others. That way you are guaranteed to keep track.
It is never okay to administer substances to other people without their knowledge and consent! You are endangering the life of the person and are liable to prosecution. If you observe such a situation, get help from others and protect the person concerned.
Mushrooms are not party drugs. The psilocybin/psilocin allows a deep and emotional exploration of your own inner spaces. It is possible that you will be confronted with unpleasant experiences or thoughts. You can try to counteract with positive thoughts or ask another person to calm you down.
Prepare yourself for consumption. Make sure to choose a quiet environment. You may need some time after the trip to process the experience. This will be easier if the day after your consumption is free of stressful appointments.
Mushrooms should not be taken alone. Consume with people you trust and feel comfortable with. Ideally, one person should be present who remains sober and can help if necessary.
- Do not consume mushrooms on a full stomach (nausea) and only when you are well-rested and in good mental condition.
Fresh mushrooms have a short shelf life. Decomposition may have already begun after one day and lead to poisoning.
Be careful when picking mushrooms. There may be confusion with other varieties. The risk of life-threatening poisoning is high.
Do not consume with mental stress, known schizophrenic psychosis, epilepsy, bipolar or borderline disorders.
Safer Sex
- Mushrooms can change one’s view of reality, loosen boundaries, and lead one to view situations differently – making unsafe sex and thus transmission of HIV or other STIs more likely.
- Sex and mushrooms only work when there is mutual agreement and great trust. Especially with mushrooms there is always the danger of a bad trip.
- You should only experience sex on mushrooms together if you know each other and the effect well. Clarify in advance which sex practices are wanted by both of you and which are not.
- Only consume so much that you can defend yourself or still recognize your partner’s defensive signals.
Only have sex with people who can express their will! If a person is so high that he or she is no longer able to communicate, he or she is also incapable of giving consent. Under no circumstances may sexual acts be (further) performed on him. This applies even if mutual intentions were previously discussed while she was conscious. This may be a criminal offense.
- Before getting down to business, have plenty of safe sex paraphernalia (gloves, condoms, lube) ready.
- Pay attention to your body! If you notice any abnormalities, you should consult a doctor.
- Get tested for sexually transmitted infections at least once a year and check your hepatitis A/B vaccination status.
Interactions with HIV therapy
The combination of mushrooms and HIV medications efavirenz (Sustiva® and its genercia, also included in Atripla®), ritonavir (Norvir® and its genercia, also included in Kaletra and Paxlovid), cobicistat (Tybost® and its genercia, also included in Evotaz, Rezolsta/Prezcobix, Genvoya, Stribild, and Symtuza ) may increase hallucinations as well as psychotic states and flashbacks.
Take drugs and HIV medication at staggered intervals. This may reduce interactions somewhat. Always keep the dose of drugs low when taking medication at the same time.
- Often the night gets long – take enough medication with you and keep your intake times.
- Talk to your doctor about the interactions of your HIV medications with intoxicants.
You can find information on the interaction of substances and HIV drugs here.
Consultation
- Want to talk about your use, have questions, or looking for support about substance use?
- Want to share and/or reflect on your experiences under substances with someone?
- You feel like you consume too much?
- Are you worried about a friend or acquaintance and want advice or tips on how to deal with it as a friend?
- You have the feeling that you use too much? The drug counseling in your area will be happy to help you!
Sources: