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Amanita muscaria Facts

Deliriant; Depressant; 3-Hydroxyisoxazole; GABA-A receptor agonist

Description

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria, Amanitaceae) is a psychoactive fungus treated here as a whole-organism substance. Its primary psychoactive constituent, muscimol, is pharmacologically distinct from serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin. Muscimol activates GABA receptors throughout the brain, producing widespread neuronal inhibition that underlies its sedative-hallucinogenic character.[1]

Subjective effects include sedation, perceptual distortion, dreamlike imagery, euphoria, ataxia, and confusion. The experience is characteristically biphasic — initial stimulation gives way to a dreamy, sedative state as the alkaloid balance shifts — with preparation method heavily determining the character.[2]

Fatal poisoning is exceedingly rare,[3] though severe intoxications involving coma and prolonged psychosis have been documented.[4][5] Combining muscimol with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives can compound sedation and suppress breathing to a dangerous degree.

Dose and duration

No dose or duration recorded for any route.

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Moderate
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
Negligible
Psychological dependence
Low
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Low

Tolerance

Builds
Unknown
Fully resets after
Not recorded
Carries over to
benzodiazepines; barbiturates; gaboxadol (THIP); other GABA-A agonists

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Sleep-transition hallucinations; +23 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Vestibular distortion, Visual haze / noise
Body
Sedation; +23 possible, including Nausea, Dizziness, Motor control impairment
Thinking
none likely · 25 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Confusion, Memory suppression
Feeling
none likely · 8 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Emotional lability
Self
none likely · 7 possible, including Derealization, Communication suppression, Depersonalization
Time
none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
Lucid dreaming enhancement; +1 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Pregnancy and lactation; Children and adolescents
Relative
Concurrent GABAergic medications; Seizure disorders; Pre-existing psychotic disorders; Kidney disease; Older adults

Combinations60 recorded

Dangerous (11)
Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Antipsychotics; Clonidine, Guanfacine; Gabapentin, Pregabalin; Ibogaine; Opioids; SNRIs; Synthetic cannabinoids
Caution (37)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/amanita-muscaria
Not graded (12)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

Deliriants are genuinely dangerous — treat any strong reaction as a medical emergency.

  • True delirium — confused, disoriented, doesn't know what's real or recognize people/danger
  • Vivid, frightening hallucinations; agitation or aggression
  • Hot, flushed, dry skin and high body temperature
  • Dilated pupils; blurred vision
  • Fast heartbeat; inability to urinate
  • Seizures; unconsciousness

What to do

  1. Call emergency services — deliriant poisoning (especially datura / belladonna) can be life-threatening
  2. Keep them physically safe — they may not know what they're doing and can badly injure themselves; remove hazards and stay with them
  3. Do not leave them alone; do not try to reason them out of it — they are delirious
  4. If overheating, cool the body
  5. Recovery position if drowsy, vomiting, or unconscious; be ready for rescue breaths / CPR

Deliriant effects are long (many hours to more than a day) and the person is not safe or in control throughout. The main dangers are self-injury during delirium, overheating, and — for potent anticholinergics like datura — cardiac and central-nervous-system toxicity. Medical monitoring is often needed.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r2 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Okhovat A, Cruces W, Docampo-Palacios ML, Ray KP, Ramirez GA (2023) Psychoactive Isoxazoles, Muscimol, and Isoxazole Derivatives from the Amanita (Agaricomycetes) Species: Review of New Trends in Synthesis, Dosage, and Biological Properties — International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms doi:10.1615/intjmedmushrooms.2023049458
  2. [2]
    ^ICEERS Foundation (2024) Amanita muscaria — Basic Info (ICEERS) Link
  3. [3]
    ^INCHEM (WHO/IPCS) (2004) Aminita muscaria, Amanita pantherina and others: Group PIM G026 — INCHEM Link
  4. [4]
    ^Brvar M, Mozina M, Bunc M (2006) Prolonged psychosis after Amanita muscaria ingestion — Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift PMID:16810488
  5. [5]
    ^Rampolli FI, Kamler P, Carnevale Carlino C, Bedussi F (2021) The Deceptive Mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria Poisoning — European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine doi:10.12890/2021_002212
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