Looking for clarity about, “How long does psilocybin remain present in the body?”—a question with no simple answer. As is often found with the human body, the length of time is affected by all the components relating to the body, as well as which compound screening method is implemented.
This question pops up for different reasons for many, some are simply curious about how long the compound will remain active, specifically relating to its effects, while others want to know about tests that screen for compounds within the body. This article seeks to clearly outline the lifespan of psilocybin shrooms in the human body. It touches further on the screenings available to an individual.
What is the lifespan of Psilocybin shrooms in the human body?
If we're talking shrooms, the ones stirring the most interest at the moment are psychedelics and contain the compounds psilocybin and psilocin. We know a minimum of 140 species of shrooms with psilocybin and psilocin, which was recently decriminalized in the state of Oregon and several other countries throughout the world. There are also some places where types of psilocybin are completely legalized.
For the most part, the usage of psychedelic shrooms is illegal. This also means an employment agreement can be terminated if the compound is present.
As is often seen in cases like this, we do not have large amounts of reliable data, so we do not know how long shrooms are present in the body. Noticeable changes are primarily felt within half to ¾ quarters of an hour, with the whole psychedelic effect lasting 4-6 hours on average(this does vary with the individual). Another key factor is how much of the compound is consumed, most affecting the intensity and duration, this is measured down to the milligram.
What we are aware of is that once the experience has concluded, the psychedelic compounds can still be detected. This information was corroborated by a study, published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis discovered that individuals that had consumed psilocybin still had traces of psilocin(which is what psilocybin degrades to) up to one full day after ingesting.
Thanks to the Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, we know that the half-life of psilocybin is 160 minutes, while psilocin is 50 minutes. This means that we can work it out at an approximation of 4 hours for 95% of the compound psilocin to leave the body, in contrast to 13 hours with regards to psilocybin
Psilocybin Detection Time
We know that psilocybin can be found in the system(including other hallucinogenic compounds) beyond the psychedelic experience. We still lack a clear understanding of how long this timeframe is.
With this in mind, we are aware that there are some key things to consider which, like anything, would affect the rate it degrades and is removed from the system.
Dose: A microdose will pass through one's system faster than repeated larger doses.
Genes: Individuals' gene coding plays a role in how quickly the system eliminates the psychedelic compounds
Body Mass: Individuals with larger BMIs tend to eliminate the compounds faster than those with smaller BMIs
Health Status: The health of the individual will play a large role in determining how quickly the body can process and eliminate the compounds. This is primarily related to the optimal functioning of the Kidney and Liver.
Age: As we age, our metabolism slows. This means that the time it takes to excrete these compounds increase as we age and a 25-year-old will pass the traces of the compound quicker than a 65-year-old. Individuals 65+ years also start to have lower blood flow to their liver and kidneys, which can affect the rate of psilocybin elimination.
Mushroom Species: Based on the strain and type of mushroom, the psilocybin content varies. As an example, Psilocybe Liniformans can contain up to 016% psilocybin, whereas Psilocybe azurescens may contain up to 1.76% psilocybin.
Drug testing method: Expanded below, the methodology of testing plays a role in the detection time.
Lifestyle: Individuals that live active lifestyles also tend to have more active and efficient metabolisms, lending themselves to faster excretion times as well. This may be further sped up by a greater level of hydration. Not to the level of passing or failing a drug screening.
With all of this in mind, psilocybin is found to usually be out of the system within 1 day.
Can a drug test detect Shrooms?
This once again comes down to the type of test and as such is a difficult question to answer accurately. A key difference between these tests is the degree of sensitivity. For the most part, no, unless the screening is a very specialized one.
So while there are tests that can detect it, they are costly and for the most part foregone, for urinalysis tests, which infrequently test for psilocybin and the presence of other psychedelic shroom compounds.
Psilocybin Drug Test
It is only recently that a psilocybin drug test has gained demand, which has been heralded by increased usage. This led to a company based in the UK, Cansford Labs wanting to spearhead the development of such a test. Their first public test for psilocybin was launched in July 2020.
A hair strand drug test was developed by Cansford. They have stated that the testing is fast, reliable, and can also detect other compounds.
They are not the only company, as there are companies in the United States that also provide testing for psilocin and psilocybin. Including such institutions as NMS Labs, Health Labs, and Quest Diagnostics.
For the most part, individuals will be taking a urinalysis test. While some claim that hydrating in excess could help to create a negative result. The truth is that it doesn’t make such a large difference. It may lead to an invalid test instead of a pass.
According to Health Labs, they test for a concentration of 1.0 ng/ml, using a chromatography/mass spectrometry test. Upon a positive initial test, a second test is done to confirm, at the same concentration.
Final Reflections on How Long Shrooms Stay in Your System
We have no clear answer on how long psilocin remains detectable within one's system, but we do have an idea of its lifespan. We saw how dosage, age, consumption method, BMI, metabolism, and the method of screening are critical factors to consider.
The number of specialized screening options is increasing, and while a company is unlikely to opt for such an expensive test, it is a possibility.
Disclaimer: This article is written purely for educational reasons. Mushly in no way suggests the use, sale, or ownership of any illicit substances. Furthermore, take the time to be aware of the legislature and what that means for you, as decided by the governing body of the country and city you live in.
