John Miller
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms containing psilocybin, are a type of psychedelic drug that can cause hallucinations and alter a person's thinking, emotions, and sense of time. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary depending on a person's mood, environment, and individual sensitivity. While some sources suggest that body weight-adjusted dosing is a standard practice in pharmacological research, there is limited evidence to support the idea that body weight significantly affects the psychedelic experience of magic mushrooms. Instead, factors such as the freshness of the fungi, an individual's mental state, and set and setting seem to play a more significant role in determining the intensity of a magic mushroom trip.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Body weight-adjusted dosing | Widely used in pharmacological research |
| Body weight | Insufficient as an adjustment metric as it does not account for body composition |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | Does not predict responses to psilocybin |
| Psilocybin | A serotonin type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonist and naturally occurring psychedelic |
| 5-HT2A receptor density | Associated with BMI |
| Impact of BMI on psilocybin therapy | Not explored |
| Set | Person's state of mind, previous encounters with psychedelic drugs, and expectations |
| Setting | Environment in which someone takes a psychedelic drug |
| Trip | Extremely context-dependent and subjective |
| Dose | Depends on factors like species, strain, freshness of the fungi, set, and body's preparedness |
| Weight of the dose | Depends on whether the mushrooms are wet or dried |
| Tolerance | Builds rapidly and diminishes quickly after use |
| Effects | Perceptual changes, hallucinations, altered thinking, sense of time, emotions, etc. |
| Duration | 4 to 8 hours of full-blown psychedelia |
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What You'll Learn
- Body weight-adjusted dosing is a 'gold standard' in pharmacological research
- However, body weight may not provide a sufficient measure of body composition
- Psilocybin is a neuro-chemical that emulates serotonin
- There is a small difference in neuromass concentration between people of varying weights
- Other factors like mood, personality, and environment also affect the trip
Body weight-adjusted dosing is a 'gold standard' in pharmacological research
Body weight is a crucial consideration in medication dosage. The size of a body affects the concentration of the drug in body fluids and at the site of action. Drugs that dissolve in water tend to stay within the blood and the fluid that surrounds cells, while drugs that dissolve in fat tend to concentrate in fatty tissues. This means that the drug quantity administered should be specific to the patient being treated.
Body weight-adjusted dosing is a gold standard in pharmacological research and has been widely used in research on psilocybin. However, there has been increasing recognition that body weight may not provide a sufficient measure of body composition when adjusting dosing. For example, in a study of dexmedetomidine dosing, a linear ABW-based strategy led to higher serum concentrations in obese compared to non-obese patients, presumed to be due to both decreased distribution into adipose tissue and impaired clearance associated with fat mass. A follow-up study by the same research team concluded that fat mass did not influence dexmedetomidine clearance.
In the context of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, opinions vary on whether body weight affects the intensity of the trip. Some sources state that body weight does not matter because psilocybin is a neuro-chem that emulates serotonin, and there is not much difference in brain sizes and neurological systems between people of different weights. However, other sources suggest that body weight-adjusted dosing may be necessary for certain populations, and that clinicians should consider writing weight-adjusted orders whenever possible.
Overall, while body weight-adjusted dosing is a gold standard in pharmacological research, there may be other factors beyond weight that are more important in determining the effects of psilocybin.
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However, body weight may not provide a sufficient measure of body composition
While body weight-adjusted dosing is considered the 'gold standard' in pharmacological research, there is increasing evidence that body weight may not be a sufficient measure when adjusting dosages. This is because body weight does not account for body composition, which is particularly important for those with an obese BMI. For example, a 200lb man can fall on his back with 5g of mushrooms, and a 90lb woman can have a mild trip with the same dosage.
Body mass index (BMI) also does not predict responses to psilocybin. Psilocybin is a serotonin type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonist and naturally occurring psychedelic. 5-HT2A receptor density is associated with BMI, but the impact of this on psilocybin therapy is not yet known. While body weight-adjusted dosing is widely used, it imposes a practical and financial strain on the scalability of psychedelic therapy.
The reason some drugs are dosage-dependent on weight is based on how they act in the body. For example, alcohol is digested in the liver and diluted throughout the blood. Therefore, more weight equals more alcohol required. However, psilocybin is a neurochemical that emulates serotonin. There is not much difference in brain sizes and neurological systems depending on weight, so the concentration in neuromass is relatively similar between people of large weight differences.
In addition, research has shown that psilocybin treatment was associated with increased lean and water mass in male and female mice. This increase in water mass correlated closely with changes in body weight.
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Psilocybin is a neuro-chemical that emulates serotonin
Psilocybin is a neurochemical that emulates serotonin. It is one of the active constituents of 'magic mushrooms' and is rapidly converted by the body to psilocin. Psilocin is chemically related to serotonin and acts as a non-selective agonist of the serotonin receptors. Serotonin 2A receptor agonism is responsible for the psychological effects of psychedelics. Psilocybin's effects on perception of time have been observed, but the neurochemical basis of these effects is not yet known with certainty.
Psilocybin is a serotonin type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonist and a naturally occurring psychedelic. The activation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is specifically responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of psilocin and other serotonergic psychedelics. Psilocybin's lasting action requires pyramidal cell types and 5-HT(2A) receptors. The psychedelic effects of psilocybin have been observed to correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels.
The subjective intensity of psilocybin trips has been found to correlate with 5-HT2AR occupancy and plasma psilocin levels. Greater plasma psilocin and 5-HT2A receptor occupancy are associated with a greater intensity of subjective effects. 5-HT2A receptor density is known to be associated with body mass index (BMI), but the impact of this on psilocybin therapy has not been explored. While body weight-adjusted dosing is widely used, it may not be a sufficient measure of body composition.
Body weight does not seem to be a factor in the intensity of a psilocybin trip. The intensity of a trip is dependent on the individual's neurological makeup and sensitivity, which can vary significantly between people of different weights. While body weight-adjusted dosing is considered a 'gold standard' in pharmacological research, there is increasing recognition that body weight may not be a sufficient adjustment metric as drug action takes place in the brain, where neuromass concentration is relatively similar between people of large weight differences.
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There is a small difference in neuromass concentration between people of varying weights
The effects of magic mushrooms are highly subjective and dependent on a variety of factors such as the individual's mood, personality, previous encounters with psychedelics, and the environment in which the mushrooms are consumed. While body weight-adjusted dosing is considered a "gold standard" in pharmacological research, it is important to note that the impact of body weight on the psychedelic experience of magic mushrooms is not well understood.
Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, is a serotonin type 2A (5-HT2A) receptor agonist. 5-HT2A receptor density has been associated with body mass index (BMI), but the relationship between BMI and the psychedelic experience has not been extensively studied. Some research suggests that body weight may not be a sufficient adjustment metric as it does not account for body composition, especially in individuals with obese BMIs.
According to some sources, the intensity of the psychedelic experience with magic mushrooms is not defined by weight. While there may be variations in neuromass concentration between individuals of different weights, these differences are relatively small. This is because our brain sizes and neurological systems do not vary significantly based on weight, resulting in similar concentrations of neuromass across different weights. Therefore, the impact of body weight on the concentration of psilocybin in the brain may be minimal.
However, it is worth noting that some individuals may believe that body weight plays a role in determining the dosage of magic mushrooms. In practice, individuals with higher body weights may require slightly higher dosages to achieve the desired effects. Additionally, in research studies, body weight is sometimes considered when administering psilocybin, with doses given as mg of psilocybin/kg of body weight or as mg of psilocybin/70kg (the average human weight). Nonetheless, at least one study found no difference in how people felt when doses were adjusted for body weight.
In conclusion, while there may be a small difference in neuromass concentration between people of varying weights, the impact of body weight on the psychedelic experience of magic mushrooms is complex and not fully understood. Other factors, such as individual sensitivity, set and setting, and the freshness and potency of the mushrooms, are likely to play a more significant role in determining the effects of the trip. As always, it is important to approach the consumption of magic mushrooms with caution and to prioritize safety and responsibility.
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Other factors like mood, personality, and environment also affect the trip
While the effects of magic mushrooms can vary, and adverse side effects can be dangerous, there are a number of factors that influence a person's experience beyond body weight.
Mood plays a significant role in shaping a person's trip. Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, binds to serotonin receptors in the brain, which affects mood, cognition, and perception. A person's mood before taking psilocybin can influence their experience. For example, feelings of anxiety prior to taking psilocybin may increase the risk of a bad trip.
Personality also has an impact on the trip. An individual's personality traits, expectations, and past experiences can shape how they react to psilocybin. The unique combination of these factors can lead to a highly variable experience, even between people who have taken the same dose.
The environment in which the mushrooms are consumed can also affect the trip. The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin can distort how a person perceives their surroundings, including objects and people. This altered perception of reality can be influenced by the physical and social environment in which the mushrooms are ingested.
In addition to the above, the type and potency of the mushroom, the dose consumed, and the person's body type can all influence the duration and intensity of the trip. While body weight-adjusted dosing is considered a gold standard in pharmacological research, it has been suggested that body weight may not be a sufficient measure on its own due to the importance of body composition.
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