Ketamine's Mushroom Myth: Exploring The Truth

Ketamine and psilocybin, more commonly known as magic mushrooms, are both hallucinogenic drugs that have been used in psychedelic therapy to treat mental health disorders such as depression. While ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic properties, psilocybin is a tryptamine psychedelic. Despite their similar applications, there are significant differences in the duration of their effects, their neurobiological mechanisms, and their legal status. So, does ketamine come from mushrooms?

Ketamine and psilocybin are largely considered safe

Ketamine and psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, are largely considered safe. However, they can be dangerous for some people. For example, a 32-year-old woman experienced a full-blown psychotic episode after taking magic mushrooms. She had paranoid and racing thoughts, insisting that there were listening devices in her phone and that people were watching her. This eventually led to her selling her home in an attempt to escape.

Psilocybin occurs naturally in certain fungi worldwide. When ingested, psilocin is converted into psychoactive psilocybin in the body. While psilocybin has been used in ceremonial settings throughout history, getting a precise dose from natural sources can be challenging. In contrast, ketamine was first developed in 1962 as a safer alternative to other anaesthesia options available at the time.

Both ketamine and psilocybin can produce mystical, transcendental experiences, which may include visuals, physical sensations, messages, or other perceptual changes. They have been shown to have antidepressant and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects and are used to treat trauma-related disorders, chronic pain, and substance use disorders. However, they also have similar risks and side effects, such as changes in blood pressure and heart rate, which may make them unsuitable for some individuals with chronic, unmanaged heart health conditions.

Ketamine and psilocybin have different durations of effect. Ketamine experiences tend to last around 40 to 90 minutes, including a "landing" period, while psilocybin experiences can last several hours, with a comedown period. This difference impacts the accessibility of these substances for clients and the time commitment required by clinicians and facilitators who assist in the experience.

Ketamine experiences last 45-90 minutes

No, ketamine does not come from mushrooms. Ketamine is a fast-acting anesthetic and painkiller used primarily in veterinary surgery. It is also used to a lesser extent in human medicine. Ketamine is commonly used to induce and sustain anesthesia. It is also becoming popular as a recreational drug because of the sedative state it causes.

Ketamine experiences last between 45 and 90 minutes. The effects of ketamine are usually felt between one and 30 minutes after taking the drug, depending on whether it is injected, snorted, or taken by mouth. The effects usually last about an hour. A ketamine high can last for 30 to 60 minutes. The duration of the experience depends on the method of administration. Ketamine is often injected, but it can also be snorted or taken by mouth.

Ketamine has mind-altering effects and is prone to abuse. It can produce vivid dreams and a feeling that the mind is separated from the body. This effect, called "dissociation," is also produced by the related drug PCP. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with some hallucinogenic properties. It distorts your perception of light and sound, making you feel disconnected and not in control of your body. Some users report feelings of an "out-of-body" or "near-death" experience. These experiences of detachment are sometimes described as a place known as "the K-hole," which can be terrifying.

Ketamine is also used as a date-rape drug due to its ability to detach users from their sense of control over their bodies. It raises heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke or heart attack. Ketamine abuse can result in respiratory failure, unconsciousness, and even death. Prolonged misuse of ketamine can lead to psychological dependence and addiction. Withdrawal symptoms can last for 4-6 days and may include cravings, loss of appetite, restlessness, depression, and irregular and rapid heartbeat.

Psilocybin experiences last 3-6 hours

Psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, is a psychedelic compound that can cause hallucinations. The effects of psilocybin typically last between 3 to 6 hours, with the complete experience tending to run about 6 hours. However, it's important to note that the duration of its effects can vary depending on various factors.

The length of a psilocybin experience is influenced by several factors, including the species of mushroom consumed, individual factors such as age, body composition, and BMI, as well as external factors such as the consumption of other substances alongside psilocybin. The more food in one's stomach when consuming psilocybin, the slower it will move through the digestive system. Additionally, hydration can help speed up the excretion of psilocybin.

The experience of taking psilocybin can vary significantly from person to person. While some individuals may have a mild experience, feeling drowsy or relaxed, others may encounter more intense effects such as hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and a distorted sense of time, place, and reality. It is important to note that higher doses or stronger mushrooms can increase the likelihood and intensity of these effects.

Psilocybin has gained attention in the field of psychedelic therapy due to its potential in treating mental health disorders, particularly depression. Clinical studies suggest that psilocybin could be a fast-acting antidepressant, although more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and toxicity. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, psilocybin is currently illegal in most parts of the world and is classified as a Schedule 1 substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

In summary, psilocybin experiences typically last between 3 to 6 hours, with the overall experience, including the comedown period, extending to around 6 hours. The duration of its effects can be influenced by various factors, and individuals should carefully consider the potential risks and effects before consuming psilocybin.

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic

Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways, including injection, infusion, intranasally, and orally. When used as a drug, it is typically mixed with beverages or added to smokable substances such as marijuana or tobacco. It can also be snorted or pressed into tablets, often in combination with other drugs.

The effects of ketamine include distorted perceptions of sight and sound, as well as feelings of disconnection and a loss of control. These hallucinogenic effects usually last for 45 to 90 minutes, with a landing period as the drug slowly dissipates. However, ketamine can impair an individual's senses, judgment, and coordination for up to 24 hours after taking the drug.

Ketamine has been the subject of clinical studies investigating its potential as a fast-acting antidepressant. It has been shown to increase dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA extracellular levels in the frontal cortex. However, it is important to note that ketamine use has been associated with serious mental and physical health problems, including depression, delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and potentially fatal respiratory issues.

In terms of its comparison to psilocybin (the compound found in magic mushrooms), ketamine provides a more dissociative experience. While psilocybin acts primarily on serotonin 5HT2 receptors, ketamine is most active in the glutamate system. The duration of the experience also differs, with ketamine journeys averaging around 45 to 90 minutes, while psilocybin trips can last several hours.

Psilocybin is a tryptamine psychedelic

Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms. It is most commonly consumed in the form of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, such as Psilocybe species like Psilocybe cubensis. The psilocybin present in certain species of mushrooms can be ingested in several ways, including consuming fresh or dried fruit bodies, preparing herbal tea, or combining it with other foods to mask its bitter taste.

Psilocybin is a prodrug of psilocin, which means that the compound itself is biologically inactive but is quickly converted by the body into psilocin, which is chemically related to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Psilocin acts as a non-selective agonist of the serotonin receptors, and activation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is specifically responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of psilocin and other serotonergic psychedelics. The effects of psilocybin include euphoria, hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and perceived spiritual experiences. It can also cause adverse reactions such as nausea and panic attacks, and its effects depend on set and setting, as well as individual expectations.

The use of psilocybin has become a central point in discussions around psychedelic therapy and psychedelic medicine due to its potential in treating mental health disorders, particularly depression. Clinical studies have shown that psilocybin and ketamine could be used as fast-acting antidepressants, although their mechanisms and toxicity are not yet fully understood. Psilocybin experiences tend to last several hours, with a comedown period, while ketamine experiences typically last around 90 minutes, including a "landing" period. These differences in duration impact accessibility for clients and the workload for clinicians and facilitators assisting in the experience.

Psilocybin has a long history of human use, with imagery in cave paintings and rock art of modern-day Algeria and Spain suggesting that its consumption predates recorded history. In Mesoamerica, psilocybin mushrooms were traditionally consumed in spiritual and divinatory ceremonies before being documented by Spanish chroniclers in the 16th century. In the late 1950s, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann isolated psilocybin and psilocin from the mushroom Psilocybe mexicana, and his employer, Sandoz, marketed and sold pure psilocybin worldwide for use in psychedelic therapy. Despite its potential therapeutic benefits, psilocybin is currently illegal in most of the world and is classified as a Schedule 1 substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

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