Dosage Guide
Introduction
Please note: This dosage guide is in specific regards to psilocybin mushroom dosing. It is for purely educational purposes only.
A mushroom trip typically lasts between 4-6 hours. Increasing dosage will not lengthen duration. It will only enhance the effects. Because usage is very dose-dependent, we made this guide to help you understand what to expect with different dosage amounts.
Mushrooms, and psychedelics in general, behave slightly differently from other substances. With things like alcohol or cannabis, consumption relates linearly with effects. Drinking more results in being more drunk. Smoking more results in being more high. Eating more mushrooms results in being more mushroom?
Maybe, but increasing mushroom consumption unlocks new effects at each increment — a little bit like leveling up in a video game. This is why we break down our levels into: microdose, recreational, and therapeutic. See below to learn more.
Interactions + Cautions
If you meet any of the criteria below, please carefully reconsider psychedelics. Consult your doctor if needed.
- The main physiological effect from psilocybin use is increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure. While these changes are safe for a large majority of the population, anyone with a history of cardiovascular disease should proceed with caution or avoid completely.
- Because psilocybin acts on the 5-HT2A receptors which affect serotonin levels, anyone on SSRI or MAO-I antidepressant medications should avoid using psilocybin completely until they’ve been completely weaned off of the SSRI/MAO-I drugs.
- Another potential effect of psychedelics is prolonged psychosis. While this side effect is extremely rare in the general population, it can be incredibly dangerous for people who have a personal or family history of primary psychotic or affective disorders like (but not limited to) schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar 1 disorder. Carefully consider or avoid psychedelic drugs if you meet this criteria.
TL/DR - consult a doctor if your heart sucks, you're depressed, or you have crazy family members.
References
Aragam, G. Medical Contraindications to “Classic” Psychedelic Use. 2022. https://psychedelics.ucsf.edu/blog/medical-contraindications-to-classic-psychedelic-use
Microdose
The microdose range is 50-300mg but sometimes up to 500mg depending on potency and individual tolerance. Risks of a “bad trip” here are nearly non-existent.
What is microdosing?
Microdosing is a sub-perceptible dose [1]. This means it is not intended to produce any “trippy” effects but instead boost mental clarity, creativity, and focus. Many studies report that microdosing helps ease anxiety and aids in battling depression [2, 3, 4].
It is thought that participating in sub-threshold regular/scheduled dosing can help induce neuroplasticity (neural regeneration) in our brains [5].
How do you microdose?
Fadiman Protocol
Created by Dr. James Fadiman [6], this cycle is great for beginners. 1 day on, 2 days off. Continue cycle for 4 weeks. Take 1-3 weeks off before starting next cycle.
- Day 1: Dose day — experience the initial effects
- Day 2: Transition day — no dose, experience the after glow
- Day 3: Normal/reset day — no dose, allow your body to baseline
- Day 4: Repeat from Day 1
Stamets Stack
Paul Stamets recommends combining psilocybin microdosing with lion’s mane mushroom and niacin. Lion’s mane mushroom is a widely studied mushroom known to have neuro-protective and neuro-regenerative properties [7]. Niacin is believed to help increase the bioavailability of the substances [4]. Stamets recommends 4 days on, 3 days off. Continue cycle for 4 weeks. Take 1-3 weeks off before starting next cycle.
- Days 1-4: Dose
- Days 5-7: No dose, normal/reset
- Day 8: Repeat from Day 1
Your Own Schedule
We recommend starting with either the Fadiman Protocol or Stamets Stack to begin. After learning more about your own mind and body’s reactions, experiment with a schedule that fits your lifestyle! Remember: everyone and everything is different, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
| Dose (mg) | Level | Description | Reasonable Things To Be Doing |
|---|---|---|---|
50-300 | Microdose | Increased clarity and focus, elevated mood, boosted creativity | Productive/creative stuff, writing, painting, designing, etc. |
References
Kuypers KP, Ng L, Erritzoe D, et al. Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2019;33(9):1039-1057. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881119857204
Rootman, J.M., Kiraga, M., Kryskow, P. et al. Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls. Sci Rep 12, 11091 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14512-3
Prochazkova, L., Lippelt, D.P., Colzato, L.S. et al. Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting. Psychopharmacology 235, 3401–3413 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5049-7
Rootman, J.M., Kryskow, P., Harvey, K. et al. Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers. Sci Rep 11, 22479 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01811-4
Calder, A.E., Hasler, G. Towards an understanding of psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity. Neuropsychopharmacol. 48, 104–112 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01389-z
James Fadiman & Sophia Korb (2019) Might Microdosing Psychedelics Be Safe and Beneficial? An Initial Exploration, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 51:2, 118-122, DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1593561 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2019.1593561
Chong PS, Fung M-L, Wong KH, Lim LW. Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020; 21(1):163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010163
Recreational + Social
Mushrooms are a great for having fun and pair well in a variety of social situations such as: dancing, walking through a museum, watching a movie, hiking, etc.
Anywhere from 500 to 2000mg can be considered recreational meaning you can take it casually. However, caution is advised around 2000mg. Consult our Flight Manual if things start to get sketchy.
Many of our peers report that using psilocybin as a recreational substance, in lieu of alcohol or other drugs, results in no nasty hangover. Some users even report feeling refreshed and better off than the night before — an experience sometimes referred to as an “after-glow” [1].
| Dose (mg) | Level | Description | Reasonable Things To Be Doing |
|---|---|---|---|
300-500 | Very Light | Euphoria, giddiness, overall increased enjoyment of communion, music, and sunlight | Being outdoors, hiking, picnicking at a park, brunch, walking through a museum |
500-1000 | Light | Increased euphoria, mild bodily stimulation, feelings of oneness, enhanced enjoyment of music and art | A night out, concert, music festival, boat party, clubbing, watching a movie, riding a bike |
1000-1500 | Moderate | Possible visual and mental stimulation, mild hallucinations, mild color shifts | A longer night out or perhaps a night in |
1500-2000 | Moderate-Heavy | Visual stimulation is highly likely, increased vibrance and saturation, lots of giddiness | Don't stare at your hand for too long in public |
References
Majić T, Schmidt TT, Gallinat J. Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2015;29(3):241-253. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881114568040
Therapeutic + Spiritual
While taking mushrooms is a great way to enhance casual recreation, it can also be used to heal or as a spiritual agent. At doses above 2000mg, we recommend staying out of the public as it can be quite uncomfortable to be around strangers.
When pushing higher therapeutic levels, users will experience prolonged episodes of introspection/retrospection and connection to the universe. Being surrounded by nature can greatly enhance these feelings. That is why therapeutic trips are best taken in remote places with easy access to the outdoors.
Oftentimes, higher doses will force users to confront things they have been avoiding like traumas, heartbreak, or other difficult moments. This is why psilocybin shows much promise as treatment for conditions like addiction, alcoholism, and PTSD [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
In short, you will be deep in thought and conversation with yourself, your surroundings, and your reality, so be ready for a wild ride.
We highly recommend a therapeutic dose at least once in your lifetime — once a year if possible.
Please note that all doses in this realm are for the experienced and steadfast only. Shit gets kinda crazy. Consult our Flight Manual if things start to get sketchy.
| Dose (mg) | Level | Description | Reasonable Things To Be Doing |
|---|---|---|---|
2000-2500 | Heavy | Color shifts, visual and mental hallucinations, closed-eye visuals, introspection, retrospection | Camping in Big Sur, enjoying an ocean sunset |
2500-3500 | Epic | Fractal geometry, melting colors, circular thoughts, confronting things you've been avoiding, time distortion, "oneness" with the earth | Enjoying music poolside in a villa on Kauai, a cabin retreat somewhere in the Sierra Nevada |
3500+ | Heroic Journey | Hold on to your butt, ego death is very likely, epiphanies, breakthroughs, crying/weeping, heavy catharsis, possible synesthesia | A nice secluded Airbnb in the Mojave desert with friends and access to outdoors, vast landscapes, and fresh air |
References
Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW. Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2014;7(3):157-164. doi:10.2174/1874473708666150107121331 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25563443/
Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR. Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2014;28(11):983-992. doi:10.1177/0269881114548296 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881114548296
Mithoefer MC, Grob CS, Brewerton TD. Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(5):481-488. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00576-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00576-3
Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa P, Strassman RJ. Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2015;29(3):289-299. doi:10.1177/0269881114565144 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881114565144
Healy CJ, Lee KA, D’Andrea W. Using Psychedelics With Therapeutic Intent Is Associated With Lower Shame and Complex Trauma Symptoms in Adults With Histories of Child Maltreatment. Chronic Stress. 2021;5. doi:10.1177/24705470211029881
Khan, A.J., Bradley, E., O’Donovan, A., Woolley, J. (2022). Psilocybin for Trauma-Related Disorders. In: Barrett, F.S., Preller, K.H. (eds) Disruptive Psychopharmacology . Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 56. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2022_366