# Permanent effects of magic mushrooms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2003, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877 "2003-08-13T11:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/21 "2003-08-14T02:03:46Z")
The disassociatives (ketamine,PCP,DXM)can permanently change your brain chemistry,at least it has happened to me. Overall it was a positive change,but the fact that it happened was undeniable to me and those around me. Nothing noticed from shrooms or LSD,i hope i can report on mescaline one day :D. ---
**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/22 "2003-08-14T17:43:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Konq \* > \*\*I took shrooms just a couple of days ago. They came in the form of caramel candies with the shrooms mixed in the middle of them. It tasted just like caramel candy. I tripped with a friend who also shared these candies with me. We had three candies, probably about 2 grams each. We each took 1.5 candies. He tripped, I didn’t. My friend said there was probably a gram of shrooms in it. What’s up with that? > > Does body metabolism or weight have any effect on the potency of shrooms? \*\* A gram of mushrooms may not have been enough to produce good effects. Also the species of fungus is important. Most psilocybin mushrooms consumed are _Psilocybe Cubensis_. These are generally considered to be easy to dose, because a rough measurement of the strength can be determined by the number of grams consumed. As a basic rule, 1 gram will produce Level 1 effects, 2 grams will produce Level 2, etc. Description on the level can be found [here](http://www.shroomery.org/index/par/11). ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/23 "2003-08-14T17:59:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SonOfArizona \* > \*\*Thanks for the replies. I think it may be possible that my friend was misinformed. Now before I sign off on this one, can anyone reccomend a good amount to start with? I read a lot of testemonials on the internet involving mushrooms, and it seems that nearly all the bad trips involved very high amounts eaten. I don’t think I saw one bad trip with 1.5 grams or under. Is that a good amount to take or will that not result in many hallucinatory effects? Also, since my friend grew these himself, will that make them more potent or less? Thanks. > > PS: any other tips would be appreciated as well. \*\* 1.5 grams (about 1/2 an eighth) should be good for your first time. As for a tip, give the other 1/2 to a friend, and have fun. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/24 "2003-08-14T19:47:20Z")
I’ve taken mushrooms, LSD, and Ketamine. As far as a psychological reaction to the drugs being permanent, it is a possibility. Suggestions to start very slow are an excellent idea, perhaps half of what others are taking would be a good start. DO NOT TRIP ALONE. The problem with psychadelic drugs in my opinion is that most people are completely unprepared for the effect they have on your mind. You will think strange thoughts. Very, very strange thoughts. If you are thinking this way for the very first time, as often happens to inexperienced drug user, those thoughts may send you for a loop and leave a kind of scar on your psyche in the same way a bad physical experience might. Its odd to experience anything for the first time, let alone a substance that can send odd thoughts and ideas into your head. The single best one-liner advice I can give you is to stay calm no matter what is going on in your head. Let a little voice tell you (and you may actually hear one) to stay cool. I eventually got away from harder psychadelics because, as I like to say, it started to wear down my soul. It gets mentally tiresome to battle the paranoia and the overall oddness of how those drugs make you feel. If you have a certain way of thinking and a very open mind, the experience is worth your time IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/25 "2003-08-14T20:30:02Z")
Berserker Vikings used to be very much into “magic mushrooms” (psilocybin-mushrooms). Not that there’s anything wrong with berserkers mind you – some of my favorite ancestors were berserkers, just don’t you come and pillage my back yard! From the Danish government, I haven’t read it all, but it says: “The risk is that the influence of the mushrooms with particular vulnerable persons can effect a long term psychotic condition.” ”Risikoen er at rusen hos særligt sårbare personer kan udløse en langvarig psykotisk tilstand” [http://www.sst.dk/publ/publ2000/rus\_bio/Rusmidlernes\_biologi-11.htm](http://www.sst.dk/publ/publ2000/rus_bio/Rusmidlernes_biologi-11.htm) Rune ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/26 "2003-08-14T21:03:18Z")
You sure about that, **Winston**? From what I’ve read, the Berserkers used _Amanita Muscaria_, or fly agaric mushrooms. These have no psilocybin and produce effects nothing like psychedelics. They’re deleriants, and they’re toxic. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/27 "2003-08-14T22:20:56Z")
I don’t know for sure, certainly “common knowledge” in Denmark have them “psilocybin-mushrooms” – don’t know if that’s correct or not. I have never tried them, but it’s also “common knowledge” that such mushrooms will give you hallucinations etc. Most sites seems to give Amanita muscaria a few also fly agaric as the preferred Berserker Viking recreational substance, so I guess you’re right – but the above linked site also seems to think “magic mushrooms” are “psilocybin-mushrooms” “Indians used psilocybin-mushrooms commonly know as “The magic Mushroom”. Also the Vikings used this hallucination substance – psilocybin – when they would go beskerk.” ”Andre indianere brugte psilocybin-svampen mest kendt under betegnelsen »The magic Mushroom«. Selv vores gamle vikinger brugte dette hallucinogen – psilocybin – når de skulle gå bersærk.” [http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Mushrooms/](http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Mushrooms/) [http://users.aber.ac.uk/axm1/history.html](http://users.aber.ac.uk/axm1/history.html) ---
**Author:** ![blinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@blinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinx)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/28 "2003-08-14T22:27:12Z")
I’ve tried shrooms - no idea what sort other than that they whre sold as “Hawaii mushrooms”, and another type sold as “Amazon Mushrooms”. The Hawaii ones where the only ones where I tripped and I had some absolutely fantastic nights on those. They where however also the source of the worst I’ve ever felt, I had a horrible bad trip where I where absolutely sure I would have spasms, that the effect would never wear off and I where actually thinking that I’d rather die than live like that for the rest of my life. I had actually been having a real good time, but then smoked a joint and soon after I felt some weird tingle in my legs and 1 minute after I just knew I where in a very bad way - not easy to describe, I where not feeling like I had to puke, I just felt absolutely horribly wrong. A few hours later I managed to get up from the place on the floor where I had spend the time. No lasting effects though, but as some other posted mentioned - if you’re too worried about how it might go wrong - you shouldn’t do it. However if you do eat them, make sure you’re in a good nice setting, go in with an open mind and expect a wonderfull time. Oh, also if you eat them raw they absolutely taste like ass. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/29 "2003-08-15T01:24:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blinx \* > \*\*Oh, also if you eat them raw they absolutely taste like ass. \*\* Not if you hold your nose and chase them down with some orange juice. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/30 "2003-08-15T01:38:18Z")
Unless you are an expert, the only good way to know how much to take is to get reccomendations from somebody you trust who has done some from that particular batch. When you just buy whatever off the local street pharmacist, there is no way to tell what you are getting. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/31 "2003-08-15T05:11:12Z")
Well… there’s a difference, here. Been doing some reading since the last time I checked on this thread. Some toxins also have druglike effects, it seems. Cartoonist Jim Valentino has written about his experience with the drug Belladonna, in particular – a powerful alkaloid that can produce hallucinogenic effects. The trouble is, it’s toxic as hell. And it can have some pretty far reaching effects. Valentino reports that it took the better part of a WEEK for him to “come down,” completely, and that he tended to flip out, afterwards, whenever he tried to drop acid. He also reports that a few of the effects STILL haven’t faded away… so one could say, truthfully, that this stuff DOES have “long term effects on the body and mind.” And, from what he said it did to HIM, one could say that it certainly might well make the difference between sanity and cloud-cuckoo-land to someone who didn’t have too firm a grip to begin with. Then again, we’re talking about belladonna, here… not psilocybin mushrooms. I have heard similar scary things about fly agaric mushrooms, but since I have neither a cite nor personal experience there, I will not offer any opinion. It is, certainly, vitally important to know what kind of mushrooms you’re eating, though, since at least one variety that grows here in the States is fairly lethal. But I’ve never heard of anyone who went fruity-gumballs as a result of eating magic mushrooms. I suspect that if there was any statistical probability, to speak of, of going nuts as a result of using most ordinary psychedelics, most of southern California would have gone insane at some point between 1967 and now. Hm. Then again, considering their current political situation, perhaps I spoke too soon… ---
**Author:** ![Spiral\_Out3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Spiral\_Out3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiral_Out3)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/32 "2003-08-15T06:00:45Z")
I doubt anything will happen. However, if you have never experiecned a trip I would wait a few more years. I first tried LSD when I was 19, and it was my first experience of anything besides marijuana, and I hated it. I just couldnt handle it, it was beyond all of my expectations. Now, I’ve grown up a little and I can hande LSD and mushrooms. Like someone said above, it’s not a question of triggering depression or psychosis, it’s a matter of being able to handle the trip. If you can’t handle it, you may freak out and have a bad experience and never touch the stuff again. If you can handle it, you may have a beautiful experience with vivid colors and enhanced imagination. Also, make SURE you are in a good state of mind before the trip. This means nothing is getting you down nothing gets you upset or anything. Psychedelics are mood enhancers, if you are in a good mood your trip will be happy and delightful, if you are in a pissed mood you will have a very angry trip, if you are in a depressed mood, your trip will be very depressing. Well, you get the point. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877/33 "2003-08-15T06:44:17Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ \*_Arnold Winkelried \*\*\* in [FAQ Guidlines](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=106617)_ > **Drugs** > Illegal (in the USA) Drugs - You are allowed discussion of the effects of drugs, but do not discuss where to buy them. Limited discussion of past use of drugs is OK, discussion of current use is not. Please include a disclaimer that the drug is illegal in the US. This thread is turning into advice on taking illegal substances. I’m closing it. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/194877.md?page=1)