How Often Should You Take Psilocybin Mushrooms?

Background on Therapeutic Psychedelic Dosage and Frequency

Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as ‘magic’ mushrooms, have been used for centuries for their mind-expanding, soul-grounding effects, and more recently, they’re being used for therapeutic purposes. 

However, the frequency of use and amount of mushrooms consumed can vary from person to person. There are different species and strains of therapeutic mushrooms, with psilocybe cubensis being the most common. 

There are also poisonous mushrooms that can look similar to psilocybin mushrooms, so it’s important to identify psilocybin mushrooms correctly if foraging.

When consuming magic mushrooms, some people prefer to take them in dried form, while others use the “lemon tek” method, which involves soaking the mushrooms in lemon juice to potentiate their effects. 

We don’t recommend that first-time or even second-time journeyers attempt to potentiate psychedelic effects. You should be familiar with your baseline reaction to psychedelic medicine, before adding more variables into the mix. 

Some people choose to take a “heroic dose” or large dose of mushrooms, which can last for several hours. Others prefer to take lower doses, which are often accompanied by less intense visuals and cathartic releases. 

Often, people will choose to microdose mushrooms, which involves routinely or intuitively taking a sub-psychedelic dose of psychedelic medicine.

We used to refer to microdosing as sub-perceptual, meaning right before you feel the psychedelic effects of the substance. 

Now, it’s more common to think of microdosing as sub-psychedelic, meaning you may feel some psychedelic effects but it’s not enough to result in a psychedelic event.

Taking mushrooms can lead to a range of psychedelic effects, such as visual distortions and an altered perception of time. These enhancements of sensation can be very enjoyable and intriguing. 

Remember though, psychedelics can also have negative consequences, especially if mixed with SSRIs and other antidepressants.

SSRIs & Psychedelics

While a lot of research has been done that has changed the common understanding of the interactions between SSRI and psychedelics from a hard no to a proceed with caution. 

A few years ago you may have heard that combining SSRIs with psychedelics will have dangerous results such as serotonin syndrome, but now we have a more nuanced understanding of their relationship.

Thanks to Malcolm and Thomas (2021), we know that adverse reactions happen on a spectrum, serotonin syndrome being the most severe, and that the risk heavily depends on which drugs are being combined.

MAOIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors are the key factor on whether combining two drugs will have serotonin-related adverse reactions.

This mechanism can be found in a variety of plants and has been used in ayahuasca ceremonies for centuries, not being discovered by scientists until 1958.

MAOIs are actually also the first class of antidepressants invented, but now it’s understood that they have too many safety concerns regarding food and drug interactions to be a reliable prescription.

To further clarify, serotonergic psychotropics, like SSRIs that do not have MAOI properties, are low risk in combination with psychedelics that also do not contain MAOIs (Malcom & Thomas 2021).

We now know that you can safely ingest classic psychedelics without disrupting your SSRI routine. However you can expect diminished psychedelic effects, which might be better if you are new to psychedelics, rather than tapering off of your SSRI before trying a psychedelic.

Recommended Reading: Medication Interaction & Tapering Resource 

People with predispositions to certain mental health conditions like psychosis and schizophrenia, are often ineligible to partake in psychedelic therapy due to the high potential for the onset or worsening of symptoms. 

Those with bipolar disorder should also speak with an experienced facilitator to ensure that psychedelic medicine is a safe route for them.

Your Relationship With Psychedelics

If you want to engage with therapeutic psychedelic use, be honest with your intentions, the content you want to work on, and what outcome you consider success or effective. 

Are you microdosing for symptom relief, or as a tool to process trauma? Maybe you seek clarification on a big decision in your near future. 

Moving From Symptom Relief to The Whole Human Approach

“There’s a fine line between using microdosing as a catalyst and depending on it for something.” — Jimmy Nguyen

Instead of using psychedelics in an attempt to get rid of certain symptoms and to cope with trauma, we like to use a more holistic approach.

This means looking at your entire life’s content and circumstances and putting some thoughtful planning into your psychedelic use, addressing questions like why and for how long.

Whether you are planning on microdosing or macrodosing, honest intentions are a big part of your relationship with psychedelics.  

We mention this because even the most versed psychonauts can find themselves seeking one thing and receiving another, thanks to the non-specific amplifier effect of psychedelics. 

Our cofounder, Jimmy Nguyen, shares from his own experience why honest intentions are so important to a conducive experience, 

“I have a microdose where I’ll wake up, I’ll take my microdose in the morning, get ready to sit down at my computer to work and about an hour and a half into my microdose, I started getting this really huge swelling of emotions. 

I was going through a breakup at the time, but I really wanted to bury my head at work. I was kind of avoiding the feelings and the emotional processing that was coming up. Well, guess what? 

All of that stuff supported by the non-specific amplifier effect of the microdose came front and center and probably about two hours in, I literally had my head in my hands, I’m leaned over my desk and just going through it, just going, going, going through it, right?

And so I bring this up to say that a part of figuring out how often you should take psychedelic mushrooms really does depend on your intentions, your stated and intended outcomes.”

How Often Should You Take a Large Therapeutic Dose?

Though a “large dose” can have very different meanings from one person to the next, a therapeutic psilocybin dose floats around 3.5 grams. The variability of dosage is extremely dependent on the individual’s sensitivity and strain strength. 

At this measure, individuals typically experience comparable sensations of distorted visuals, minor synesthesia, and a warped sense of time.

This is often accompanied by a disillusion of preconceived schemas that portend positive transformation in the perceptions of our inner and outer worlds. 

Understanding the ideal frequency for embarking on therapeutic psychedelic journeys can be approached from several different lenses.

From a data-driven risk standpoint, psilocybin mushrooms are very safe for consumption, though its effects can sometimes lead to what some people would call a ‘bad trip’, or what we like to call a challenging experience. 

The most immediate and present effects would include heightened confusion or paranoia, reduced coordination, and overwhelming sensory stimulation. 

Psychedelic mushrooms can technically be taken by a healthy individual on a daily basis, without causing any readily apparent hazards to your physical health. Should large doses of psilocybin be taken every day for prolonged periods of time? Almost definitely, no. 

While the mushroom itself is a natural substance without any inherent constituents posing a danger to our health, taking any large dose of psychedelic medicines daily could cause terribly unnecessary internal mental wellness imbalance.

Generally, clinical studies have designated 3-4 week intervals between trips, to be an appropriate frequency. Though it should be made clear that these clinical trials do not expose subjects to this regimen, indefinitely. Meaning, dosing with psilocybin mushrooms every few weeks for years on end, isn’t recommended.

See, therapeutic approaches to psychedelic consumption shouldn’t reflect the regularity by which antidepressants are taken. It’s precisely the durability of their positive results that have gained psychedelic medicines such a notable position in our mental health industry. 

In fact, the tolerance-building effects of psilocybin mushrooms make it almost impossible to experience consistent high levels of perceptual diversities. 

Taking psilocybin daily would perpetually require you to consume triple the amount of your last dose in order to witness steady levels of hallucinations.

If we’re addressing this question from a psychological point of view, constant exposure to these drastically altered states of mind could overload your brain with too much change, too quickly, and may result in sustained feelings of dissociation that are extremely unpleasant, to say the least. 

In order to gain the most productive results from this medicine, it’s important to allow yourself time to properly integrate the experience. Processing such a substantial inner event cannot happen overnight. 

For some, the wait could be weeks or several months and some people even find themselves digesting parts of their trip for years after it’s happening. Rushing the process of integration could negate the benefits of these medicines by blurring the lines of mental order and stability.

“Stirring up new content all the time isn’t the most helpful. Especially when you think that you have unpacked and learned everything there was in that psychedelic experience, but actually there’s more to unfold. 

Then you have another psychedelic experience and it actually stacks on more content for you to unpack, that in itself creates some type of a bottleneck or a content jam within yourself.”

In most cases, it can be difficult to conceptualize the meaning of a surreal vision while still in the haze of a psychedelic trip. Allowing your mind ample time to discern the significance of a trip’s nuances is extremely valuable for preserving the integrity of your conscious decision-making skills. 

After a psychedelic experience, you should intend to hold an intrapersonal space of self reflection and self support through mental repose. Nurturing a balanced transition into and out of these states of consciousness are coequally important. 

From a spiritual perspective, the balanced practice of holding on and letting go should be recognized as a sacred, personal service. 

Fostering transcendental healing in an emotionally sustainable way can only occur through our patient awareness, which in itself, is a practice of surrender and attachment to our highest good. 

Becoming acquainted with that which is below our corporeal surface shouldn’t always require diving headfirst into the turbulent waters of our minds.

Sometimes, a bird’s eye view will help us locate unconscious vices with much clearer direction. This is all to say that psychedelic medicines should be used as a tool, not a crutch. 

Respect for the spirit of these rites should look like surrender, through the attitudes of patience and trust. Honoring their sacredness means allowing yourself the space to really, truly, integrate their teachings.

If you find yourself having large-dose experiences more than once a month for an extended period of time, we urge you to pause to really consider your goals, and ensure you have a support system and groundedness as you go through so much radical change.

So the general rule of thumb, give yourself at least 3-4 weeks in between psychedelic trips to ensure the best rehabilitative results. After all, our goal is to become the change we seek without having to rely on an external substance—even if it’s naturally occurring.

How Often Should You Microdose?

Many people prefer to opt into microdosing regimens, instead. Microdosing involves ingesting much smaller doses of psilocybin mushrooms, usually .05-.25 grams or 1/30-1/60th of a large dose. This route is taken by those who desire a gentler, long term build up of healing effects.

In fact, people with depression, anxiety, OCD , and even eating disorders have reported seeing great results from this approach. The experience of a microdose is very difficult to compare against large-dose trips. 

While larger doses influence accelerated arrival at more all-encompassing mental destinations, microdosing can promote equally potent changes, for example, but in a much more subtle and slow paced way.

A proper microdose will never cause hallucinations of any kind. Instead, you may notice brighter and richer colors, a feeling of empathy and connectedness to everything including our planet, and a very seamless transition into more functional mental perspectives. 

Therapeutic, intentional microdoses help us explore our behaviors and relationships from a more mentally steady place, whereas large doses often cause a much more rapid upending of self-limiting mental paradigms. 

So, how often is a microdose taken? Typically, a microdose is taken 3-5 days of any 7-day-week, over the course of a few months. Similar to how one would take a supplement of vitamins. 

These intervals are set in place to prevent drug tolerance development. The two-day breaks in any given week allow your body to reset, removing the microdose from your system so the potency of upcoming doses aren’t affected by preceding ones.

Again though, just as with larger-dose trips, psychedelic mushrooms are not for everyday employment like antidepressants are. Psilocybin mushrooms are so promising because they don’t require prolonged self medication. 

During our one to two-month microdosing regimens, we should be consciously and consistently extracting and integrating productive behaviors we’re noticing to be of help. 

Journaling is a highly recommended tool for tracking your progress and adding or removing certain factors as time goes on and your needs change.

This way, when our microdosing routine comes to end, we’ll have easy access to more intentional and proactive mental frames.

Taking time off not only addresses tolerance build up, but it also allows you to check in on your baseline, make changes to your plan of action, and recalibrate your dosage if necessary. 

Lessons From Rev & The Kayaker Analogy

Now that we’ve shared our technical knowledge on how often to take psilocybin mushrooms, we have one last story to share with you that hopefully is as meaningful to you as it was for us. 

Last year at the MAPS conference in Denver, our cofounder Jimmy Nguyen had a deep conversation with “Rev”, the person actually responsible for getting suicide support as a recognized crisis number, from 800-273-TALK to 988.

As Rev and Jimmy sat in Confluence Park on the Platte River, Rev began to share how an experienced kayaker would interact with the powerful ebb and flow of the river. 

Looking at the swells and eddies where the water pools, if you position your kayak in the balance point, you can sit at the crest of the swirl with very little effort at all. 

A good kayaker also knows when to make a decisive turn, when to use their oar to pivot, and will look ahead to the future conditions of the water and environment. 

A good kayaker doesn’t just know this in theory, they know how to operate within the confines of the river because of practice and building up their skills. 

Most importantly, a good kayaker knows when to get out of the river and walk. This is to say that the same process can be applied to the question, “When or how often should I take psilocybin mushrooms?”

Ask yourself from the perspective of a kayaker deciding whether to take on one of Mother Nature’s most powerful constituents. 

What’s the condition of the water of my life? What’s the condition of the weather in my life? How fatigued am I at this moment? What’s my equipment and tool set like? 

Do I have the right support? Do I have a spotter? How well do I know what’s under the current of the water for me to be able to read what the whirlpools and eddies are doing?

Only you know the honest answer to these questions, and remember theoretical knowledge can only take an inexperienced person so far, but you are probably way more capable than you think!

When to Expect Results From Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Now that we’ve discussed the two most common ways to consume psilocybin mushrooms, we can start painting a more comprehensive image of what psychedelic-assisted therapy looks like.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy does not mean that a trip will be taking place every time you go into session.

Instead, you are working with a guide or facilitator to prepare for your journeys, to have support during the experience, and to get professional assistance with methods of integration.

Essentially, a healthy cycle of dosing is already built into the psychedelic-assisted therapy model. In clinical trials, patients with PTSD, depression, or anxiety are usually given anywhere from 3-6 psychedelic assisted therapy sessions with 3-4 weeks breaks in between.

Really, the number of times that you’ll have to embark on a psychedelic journey to attain your desired  results, cannot be quantified before that day arrives, especially when our personal goals are constantly fluctuating according to outside circumstances. 

Some people experience life changing results in just one psychedelic trip. For others, it takes three or four or maybe even five trips to meet more stable and consistent emotional bodies. 

We always tell our clients to focus on the journey that’s immediately in front of them, as opposed to trying to prescribe a set number of journeys from the get go. 

“Results” can be a vague term though. If you’re interpreting “results” as any small change that alters your perspective on existential circumstances or personal identities, then it’s very likely that you’ll experience these shifts from your very first trip.

The nature of a psychedelic journey is rooted in a sort of unveiling of our sociological conditioning. The simple experience of entering an altered state of mind is in itself, the result of acquiring very literal, novel outlooks. 

It allows our brain to step into new dimensions of our routine spaces that likely haven’t been explored in our day-to-day lives.

So yes, under these terms, results can be experienced from your first psychedelic-assisted therapy session, but it could take multiple sessions to expose the deeper roots of our psychological conditioning. 

There really is no magic number for the amount of trips it would take to achieve your mental health goals, which is why pacing these experiences can help you get a better gauge on progress made thus far.

The Best Spore Vendor & At-Home Mushroom Grow Kits

Choosing the right method for cultivating mushrooms at home can be a daunting task, given the plethora of options available. 

To simplify your decision-making process, we’ve narrowed down our focus to two companies: North Spore and Midwest Grow Kits. In addition, Inoculate The World takes first place as our top recommendation for premium mushroom spores.

Our selection is based on their reputation for offering straightforward, cost-effective, and efficient mushroom cultivation solutions. 

It’s crucial to note that our recommendation is not influenced by affiliate partnerships; rather, these companies have become affiliates due to their commitment to providing valuable and reliable information to our readers.

Explore Harm Reduction Products:

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Inoculate The World – Your Trusted Spore Source

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Inoculate The World, established in 2016, is our top recommended medicinal mushroom spore vendor. Known for their legitimacy and excellent support, they offer a wide range of psilocybin mushroom strains.

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Explore the world of mushroom cultivation with confidence, guided by our recommendations for the best grow kits and spore vendors. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cultivator, these companies offer solutions tailored to your needs.

If You Were A Kayaker…

And psilocybin was a river, what would your journey look like?

• Factors To Consider Beyond The Mushroom: Explore how your beliefs can affect a psychedelic experience and how to set yourself up for success.
• Recognizing Your Needs: Setting yourself up with a personalized care team for your psychedelic journey is one small step you can take to make sure your needs are met long term. 
• Take It Into Your Own Hands: Discover how you can test the potency of a variety of substances from the privacy of your own home.
• Learning More About Consumption: Take a look at a more in depth overview of popular ways to consume psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
• Integration as a Form of Healing: Sometimes after a psychedelic experience you find yourself in need of healing and hashing out all the information it has to offer, so that you can make conscious changes that benefit you.
• The First Step When You’re Scared to Take The First Step: Does the unpredictability of quieting your mind give you the heebie jeebies? Explore 8 ways to ease into spirituality and the psychedelic state of mind without drugs.

Client Testimonial:

“The facilitator was indeed the wise guide I was seeking for my first psilocybin journey. Throughout the process, she heard and honored my needs and intentions, responding in ways that supported and deepened my experience.

She is a wonderful being, sensitive and intuitive guide and a true healer. Thank you so much for all that you do to support the understanding and experience of the healing power of plant medicines.” — Psychedelic Passage Client

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the recommended dosing frequency for psilocybin mushrooms?

The general recommendation is to wait at least 3-4 weeks between large doses of psilocybin mushrooms to allow for proper integration and reflection. Microdosing can be done 3-5 days a week, incorporating breaks to prevent tolerance buildup.

2. How do I know when it’s time to take a break from psilocybin use?

If you find yourself using large doses more frequently than once a month for longer than three months or feeling dependent on the experiences for emotional relief, it may be time to reassess your approach. 

Taking breaks allows for integration of lessons learned and can help prevent emotional burnout or dissociation. Regularly checking in with your intentions and goals can guide this decision.

3. How can I prepare mentally and physically for a psychedelic experience?

Preparing for a psychedelic experience involves setting honest intentions, creating a safe and comfortable environment, and being aware of your current mental state. 

Engaging in activities such as mindfulness, journaling about your goals, and discussing your intentions with a trusted guide can enhance your preparation.

Microdosing can also be a good precursor to a large-dose experience if it’s your first time and you want to “test the waters” before diving in.

4. What is the difference between macrodosing and microdosing with psilocybin?

Macrodosing involves taking a larger amount of psilocybin mushrooms (typically around 3.5 grams), resulting in a full psychedelic experience with significant alterations in perception and consciousness. 

Microdosing, on the other hand, involves taking a much smaller amount (about 0.05 to 0.25 grams) which typically does not cause hallucinations but may enhance mood, creativity, and overall mental well-being.

5. Why is integration important after taking psilocybin mushrooms?

Integration is essential to process the insights and experiences gained during a psychedelic journey. It allows individuals to reflect on their experiences, apply lessons learned to daily life, and support emotional stability. Failing to integrate can lead to confusion or feeling overwhelmed by unresolved emotions.

5. How can I track my progress when using psilocybin for therapeutic purposes?

Tracking progress can be done through journaling, where you document your experiences, thoughts, and feelings before and after each session. Additionally, reflecting on any changes in mood, behavior, or perspective over time can provide valuable insights into your healing journey.

Keeping tabs on your dosage and progress can also help discern whether you need to change your dosing or dosing frequency to fit your current needs.

References

da Costa, S. C., Oesterle, T., Rummans, T. A., Richelson, E., & Gold, M. (2022). Psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 440, 120332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2022.120332

Doblin, R. E., Christiansen, M., Jerome, L., & Burge, B. (2019). The Past and Future of Psychedelic Science: An Introduction to This Issue. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs,  51(2), 93–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1606472

Malcolm, B., & Thomas, K. (2021). Serotonin toxicity of serotonergic psychedelics.  Psychopharmacology, 239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-05876-x