How long do shrooms last?
When effects begin, when they peak and when they end, from dose studies and pharmacokinetic research.
Short answer: effects of psilocybin mushrooms usually begin within the first hour, peak within one to two hours, and are mostly over within about six hours, with after-effects for some hours more. Early studies found effects generally begin within 30 minutes of swallowing psilocybin, peak within one to two hours and subside over the next few hours. [The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act, Neuropharmacology, 2018, read 28 October 2026] Erowid gives a duration of two to six hours and after-effects for up to eight. [Psilocybin mushroom dosage (archived copy), Erowid, via Internet Archive, 2026, read 28 October 2026]
- 0 to 1 hourOnset. Effects generally begin within 30 minutes; physical sensations such as nausea or yawning can come first.
- 1 to 2 hoursEffects build to their peak.
- 2 to 4 hoursThe strongest part continues, then begins to ease.
- 4 to 6 hoursReturn. Most effects fade; thinking clears.
- Up to 8 hoursAfter-effects: tiredness, sensitivity, a changed mood. Not fit to drive.
A typical shape, not a promise. The phases combine the sources cited on this page; individual sessions vary widely.
What the pharmacology says
Psilocybin is a prodrug: the body converts it to psilocin, the compound that produces the effects. In a study of escalating oral doses, psilocin reached its highest blood level a median of about two hours after the dose at every dose tested, and its elimination half-life was about three hours. [Pharmacokinetics of escalating doses of oral psilocybin in healthy adults, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2017, read 28 October 2026] An earlier study summarised in a 2018 review found psilocin peaking at about 50 minutes and declining over the next five hours. [The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act, Neuropharmacology, 2018, read 28 October 2026] Timings differ between studies. That is one reason any timeline is approximate.
What changes the timing
- Food. Erowid's onset of 20 to 60 minutes is for mushrooms swallowed on an empty stomach, so expect it to vary after a meal. [Psilocybin mushroom dosage (archived copy), Erowid, via Internet Archive, 2026, read 28 October 2026]
- Dose and potency. Potency varies by a factor of four or more between cultivated mushrooms, so the same weight is not the same dose. [The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act, Neuropharmacology, 2018, read 28 October 2026]
- Medicines. Some antidepressants blunt the effects; see the interaction checker. [Attenuation of psilocybin mushroom effects during and after SSRI/SNRI antidepressant use, Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2023, read 28 October 2026]
Why the timing matters for safety
- Never redose because nothing seems to be happening in the first hour. That is a common way to end up far stronger than planned.
- Plan for a sober sitter to stay the whole day, and clear the next day. See how to be a trip sitter.
- Do not drive or make big decisions until the next day. [Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms), National Institute on Drug Abuse, read 28 October 2026]
Next: what to do during a trip, the dose calculator, and the four-week plan.
Questions
How long does it take for shrooms to kick in?
Usually within the first hour. Early research found effects generally begin within 30 minutes of swallowing psilocybin, and Erowid gives an onset of 20 to 60 minutes for mushrooms swallowed on an empty stomach. [The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act, Neuropharmacology, 2018, read 28 October 2026] [Psilocybin mushroom dosage (archived copy), Erowid, via Internet Archive, 2026, read 28 October 2026]
How long do shrooms last?
Most of the effect is over within about six hours. Erowid gives a duration of two to six hours with after-effects for up to eight, and the Dutch drug information service says three to four hours. [Psilocybin mushroom dosage (archived copy), Erowid, via Internet Archive, 2026, read 28 October 2026] [Wat je moet weten over paddo's, DRUGSinfo, Trimbos-instituut, read 28 October 2026]
When is the peak?
Early studies found effects peak within one to two hours. In a modern pharmacokinetic study, psilocin, the active form, reached its highest level in the blood about two hours after the dose. [The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act, Neuropharmacology, 2018, read 28 October 2026] [Pharmacokinetics of escalating doses of oral psilocybin in healthy adults, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2017, read 28 October 2026]
How long do truffles last?
About as long as mushrooms. The Dutch drug information service gives three to four hours for mushrooms or truffles. [Wat je moet weten over paddo's, DRUGSinfo, Trimbos-instituut, read 28 October 2026]
When a retreat or licensed centre is the better choice
If you take any medication on the interaction checker, have a personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, have a heart condition, or have nobody sober and steady to sit with you, a setting with screening and trained staff is the safer choice. In trials, participants were screened first and supported by trained monitors throughout. [Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety, Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2008, read 28 October 2026]
- All retreats and licensed centres, with prices and the law in each place
- Find your retreat: seven questions and a shortlist
- Licensed sessions in Oregon or Colorado, or retreats in the Netherlands and Jamaica
If you need help now
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): call or text 988, any hour. 988lifeline.org
- Fireside Project (US): a psychedelic peer support line, call or text 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433). [Fireside Project: psychedelic peer support line, Fireside Project, read 28 October 2026]
- A medical emergency anywhere: call your local emergency number (911 in the US, 112 in the EU).