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NIDA - Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) Drug Facts

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), U.S. National Institutes of Health · Published: August 14, 2026 · Accessed: August 14, 2026

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Claims this source supports

  • Psilocybin is a psychedelic (hallucinogen) from certain mushrooms; when taken, the body converts it to psilocin, which activates serotonin receptors, primarily 5HT2a, altering brain activity and communication between regions.
  • Psilocybin can temporarily disrupt communication among regions of the brain known as the default mode network, which is most active during self-reflection.
  • Microdosing is taking very small amounts of the substance regularly, trying to improve mental state and productivity; people also self-treat conditions such as depression or anxiety, though NIDA notes additional research is needed to support these outcomes.
  • Psilocybin has low toxicity (low potential for fatal events like breathing problems or heart attack), but studies show health risks when unsupervised: people may put themselves or others at risk of physical harm, psilocybin typically raises blood pressure and heart rate which may be dangerous for people with heart conditions, and side effects like agitation, confusion, vomiting or nausea may require medical attention.
  • Some people experience extreme fear, anxiety, panic or paranoia (a 'bad trip'), and there is a risk of mental health problems such as psychosis or suicidality; there is also a risk of misidentifying mushrooms and taking a toxic mushroom, and CDC has reported commercial products such as candies marketed as containing psilocybin found to contain toxic chemicals.
  • With more public interest and fewer legal restrictions in some areas, exposures reported to poison control centers have increased over the past few years.
  • Researchers are testing psilocybin's potential to treat mental health disorders including substance use disorders, depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.