Emma Wilson
Magic mushrooms and LSD (acid) are two of the most well-known psychedelic substances. While they can both cause hallucinations and are often taken recreationally, there are some key differences between the two drugs. This text will explore the effects of each substance, their potential risks, and whether one can be considered safer than the other.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural/synthetic | Mushrooms are natural, LSD is synthetic |
| Duration of effects | A mushroom trip usually lasts up to 6 hours, an LSD trip can last up to 12 hours |
| Perceived duration | People tend to perceive the faster-acting LSD trip as proceeding more rapidly than a mushroom trip |
| Bad trips | There are more reports of bad trips with LSD than with mushrooms |
| Overdose | It is possible to overdose on both, but deaths due to LSD overdose are rare |
| Dependency | It is possible to develop a physical and psychological dependency on both |
| Side effects | Both have similar side effects, but LSD can also affect the central nervous system |
| Ingestion | Mushrooms are usually eaten or brewed into tea, LSD is typically dropped onto paper or sugar cubes or taken orally as a liquid |
| Potency | LSD is more potent than mushrooms |
| Risk | Both have similar risks, but taking the wrong type of mushroom can be fatal |
| Legal status | Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I drug in the US, with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse |
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What You'll Learn
Dosage and potency
The potency of LSD and magic mushrooms differs, with LSD being one of the most potent psychedelic drugs. A tiny amount of LSD can deliver a very strong trip. A mild LSD trip can be induced by a dose of approximately 25 micrograms, while a more intense trip is likely to occur at doses of 100 to 200 micrograms. In comparison, magic mushrooms require a significantly higher dose to induce a trip. However, the potency of mushrooms can vary depending on the type of mushrooms and quantity consumed.
The onset time for both substances depends on factors such as individual metabolism, tolerance, and dosage. On average, both substances take about an hour to take effect on an empty stomach, but this can be delayed if consumed after a meal. The duration of a trip also differs between the two substances. A magic mushroom trip typically lasts 4 to 6 hours, with peak effects occurring after 2 to 3 hours. On the other hand, an LSD trip can last from 6 to 10 hours or even longer. The longer duration of LSD trips is attributed to its ability to mimic serotonin in the brain and bind strongly to serotonin receptors, making it difficult for the LSD molecule to detach.
While both substances have similar potential effects, they can produce different experiences. Magic mushrooms are known to produce a more whole-body experience, while LSD induces a more cerebral trip. The intensity of the experience can also vary between the two. People tend to report more extreme experiences on either end of the spectrum with LSD, ranging from breakthroughs to breakdowns. The type of experience is strongly influenced by the user's mindset and the environment in which the substance is consumed.
In terms of safety, magic mushrooms are considered safer than LSD in terms of toxicity and the need for emergency medical treatment. According to surveys, a lower percentage of individuals who consumed magic mushrooms required emergency medical treatment compared to those who took LSD. However, it is important to note that both substances can lead to substance use disorder if not approached with caution. Additionally, they can pose serious short-term health risks, such as serotonin syndrome when combined with certain antidepressants.
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Duration of effects
The duration of the effects of psilocybin mushrooms and LSD differs significantly. An LSD trip can last eight to twelve hours, whereas a mushroom trip typically lasts four to six hours. However, it is important to note that the duration can vary from person to person.
The longer duration of LSD trips can result in more intense cerebral experiences, often involving deep thought patterns and vivid visual hallucinations. On the other hand, psilocybin mushrooms tend to produce a more grounded experience, frequently described as nature-focused or spiritual, with users reporting a deeper connection to the environment and their emotions.
The active compound in psilocybin mushrooms, psilocybin, interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, influencing mood, perception, and consciousness. While psilocybin mushrooms are not considered physically addictive, regular use can lead to increased consumption and tolerance, and eventually, a psychological dependency on the drug. Although psilocybin has low toxicity, it is possible to overdose on the drug after consuming large amounts, resulting in adverse physical and mental effects, often referred to as a "bad trip". Depending on the user, a psilocybin bad trip can last between six to eight hours, but some effects may linger for several days.
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a synthetic substance derived from a fungus that grows on rye. It is a psychoactive chemical compound that binds to the brain's serotonin receptors and alters neural pathway activity. Due to its potency, LSD is typically diluted into a liquid form. Small doses of LSD can cause minor changes in mood, thought, and perception, but the effects can be more intense and unpredictable when larger amounts are ingested. The longer duration of LSD's effects, combined with the ease of ingesting more than intended, may explain why there are generally more reports of "bad" LSD trips.
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Method of consumption
LSD (Acid)
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a synthetic chemical that is commonly ingested orally. It is often sold in the form of drops dried onto gelatin sheets, pieces of blotting paper, or sugar cubes. These are placed in the mouth where they dissolve and release the drug. LSD is also available in powder, liquid, tablet, or capsule form and can be snorted or injected.
Magic Mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or "shrooms", are wild mushrooms that contain the naturally occurring psychoactive and hallucinogenic compound psilocybin. They are usually dried and eaten, either alone or mixed with food or drinks. They can also be brewed into a tea. Mushrooms can be purchased from a grocery store or foraged in the wild, though this is not recommended as many wild mushrooms are poisonous and can be hard to identify.
Comparing Methods of Consumption
Both LSD and magic mushrooms are ingested orally, but LSD is also consumed through other methods such as injection or snorting, which is not the case for mushrooms. Mushrooms are typically eaten or brewed into a tea, whereas LSD is often absorbed orally through the use of dissolvable tabs, or gelatin sheets, which are placed in the mouth.
Safe Consumption Practices
It is important to note that the consumption of LSD and magic mushrooms carries risks and potential side effects. While these substances can induce similar effects, they produce different experiences. It is always a good idea to have a sober person present to help look after someone who has taken a psychedelic substance. Additionally, it is recommended to only consume mushrooms purchased from a grocery store, as wild mushrooms can be difficult to identify and many are poisonous.
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Risk of overdose
While the use of magic mushrooms is not commonly associated with fatal overdoses, there are still significant risks. Consuming a large quantity of mushrooms containing psilocybin can lead to severe psychological distress, characterised by a 'bad trip' with intense fear or anxiety, and in rare cases, this can result in harmful behaviours or accidents. The main risk of taking magic mushrooms is that some look very similar to certain types of poisonous mushrooms, which can cause a person to become very sick and can even result in death. Therefore, it is important to know what you are taking. If in doubt, do not take them.
Mushrooms are not considered physically addictive, as users do not typically develop a physical reliance on them. However, there is a possibility of developing a psychological dependence, where one may begin to seek out these experiences excessively.
On the other hand, LSD is more potent than magic mushrooms, meaning it takes less acid to get high and become dependent. As a result, users are more likely to ingest more LSD than their bodies can handle, increasing the risk of intoxication and overdose. LSD is not as immediately toxic as some other illicit drugs, but overdose is possible. High doses of LSD can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, including anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, and psychosis. In some cases, high doses of classic hallucinogens can even lead to death, although this is rare.
While no deaths have been attributed to LSD use alone, it is not without risks, especially when taken in higher doses or combined with other substances or medications. The experience of a bad trip can be psychologically damaging, with terrifying hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and long-term changes to mood or mental health.
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Psychological effects
While the effects of psilocybin mushrooms and LSD (acid) are similar, they produce different types of highs or trips. An LSD trip occurs mostly in the cerebral region of the brain, whereas mushrooms tend to produce a whole-body experience.
LSD is a potent hallucinogen that can alter a person's perception of reality and vividly distort the senses. It can affect vision, emotions, thinking, and more. The effects of LSD can be mild, such as changes in perception, thought, and mood, or more intense, such as visual hallucinations and distortions in the perception of space and time.
There is always a risk of having an unpleasant trip involving paranoia, fear, or anxiety. While these effects typically wear off within 24 hours, some people experience lingering distress, which may be related to pre-existing mental health conditions.
Long-term psychological problems may follow a bad trip with LSD, including prolonged anxiety, depression, or psychosis. People with hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) may experience "flashbacks" of the drug experience, involving recurring hallucinations or distorted perceptions, weeks, months, or even years after a psychedelic experience.
Psilocybin mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion. As with LSD, there is a risk of a bad trip, which may involve feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and short-term psychosis. Factors such as mental health, setting, quantity, and expectations may affect the experience someone has after using psilocybin.
After several days of psilocybin use, people might experience psychological withdrawal and have difficulty adjusting to reality. Regular use may also lead to tolerance and cross-tolerance with other drugs, including LSD and mescaline.
Therapeutic potential
Despite the risks, there is a growing body of research suggesting that both LSD and psilocybin may have therapeutic potential for treating various psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are eaten raw or brewed into a tea, while acid is typically dropped on small squares of paper or sugar cubes, or straight into the mouth. Mushrooms occur naturally, while acid is a man-made chemical compound. Mushrooms usually produce a whole-body experience, while acid occurs mostly in the cerebral region of the brain.
While it is possible to overdose on both mushrooms and acid, acid is more potent, meaning it takes less to get high and become dependent. As a result, users are more likely to ingest more acid than their bodies can handle, increasing the risk of intoxication and overdose. However, this does not mean that mushrooms are safer—they are merely less potent.
Both mushrooms and acid can lead to substance use disorder if not taken seriously. There is also a risk of having a bad trip on either substance, which can be scary and anxiety-inducing. In addition, several psychedelics, including mushrooms and acid, have been associated with a rare condition called hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD), where people experience recurring hallucinations or "flashbacks" after a psychedelic experience.
