Psilocin
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Psilocin
The skeletal formula of 4-HO-DMT.
Psilocin2.png
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names Psilocin, 4-HO-DMT
Substitutive name Psilocine, Psilocyn, or Psilotsin
Systematic name 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]-4-indolol
Routes of Administration


Oral
Dosage
Threshold 3 - 4mg
Light 4 - 8mg
Common 6 - 20mg
Strong 20 - 40mg
Heavy 35mg+
Duration
Onset 15 - 30 mins
Peak 90 - 180 mins
Offset 2 - 6 hours
Afterglow up to 8 hours









Psilocin (also known as 4-HO-DMT, psilocine, psilocyn, or psilotsin) is a substituted tryptamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic drug.

Psilocin is the active component in psilocybin mushrooms in roughly equal amounts along side of its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin (the pro-drug for psilocin). Its mind-altering effects are highly variable and subjective, resembling those of LSD and DMT.

Chemistry

Psilocin is made up of a tryptamine backbone with a hydroxyl group attached to carbon R4 of the indole ring and two methyl groups substituted onto the nitrogen RN1 and RN2. The tryptamine backbone is an indole ring attached to a monoamine chain. It is structurally similar to serotonin (5-HT), differing only by the hydroxyl group being on the 4-position rather than the 5 and the dimethyl groups on the nitrogen.

Pharmacology

Skeletal formula of psilocybin molecule.
Main article: Serotonergic psychedelic

Psilocin's psychedelic effects are believed to come from its efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor as a partial agonist. Unlike LSD, this compound has no significant effect on dopamine receptors and only affects the noradrenergic system at very high dosages.[1] However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.

Psilocybin

Within psychedelic mushrooms, a compound known as psilocybin is found in roughly equal amounts along side of psilocin and is therefore commonly associated with it. However, this substance is not thought to be active in itself and instead acts as a pro-drug to psilocin within the body via dephosphorylation under strong acidic or alkaline conditions.

Psilocybin Mushrooms

Hand picked wild magic mushrooms.

Psilocybin Mushrooms, also known as psychedelic mushrooms, are fungi that contain psychoactive tryptamine indole alkaloids, including psilocybin and psilocin. Multiple colloquial terms are used for psilocybin mushrooms with the most common being shrooms and magic mushrooms.[2]

Psilocybin mushrooms are the most commonly used form of psilocin. They have likely been used since prehistoric times and may have been depicted in rock art.[3] Many cultures have used these mushrooms in religious rites. In modern Western society, they are used recreationally and spiritually for their psychedelic effects.

Dosage

Psilocybin-containing fungi encompass many species with varying potencies and also include truffles and the Panaeolus genus. When using psilocybin mushrooms for oral consumption, the dose varies by strain, but is generally considered to be:

  • Light : .25 - 1 g
  • Common : 1 - 2.5 g
  • Strong : 2.5 - 4 g
  • Heavy : 5.5+ g

Species

Some common psilocin/psilocybin containing species include:

Psilocybe

Psilocybe semilanceata, also known as the liberty cap.
  • Psilocybe atlantis
  • Psilocybe azurescens
  • Psilocybe brasiliensis
  • Psilocybe caerulescens
  • Psilocybe columbiana
  • Psilocybe cubensis
  • Psilocybe cyanescens
  • Psilocybe galindoi
  • Psilocybe laurae
  • Psilocybe paulensis
  • Psilocybe plutonia
  • Psilocybe semilanceata
  • Psilocybe subaeruginosa
  • Psilocybe tampanensis
  • Psilocybe weraroa
  • Psilocybe wrightii
  • Psilocybe zapotecorum

Panaeolus

Panaeolus cyanescens, also known as the pan cyan.
  • Panaeolus africanus
  • Panaeolus campanulatus
  • Panaeolus cinctulus
  • Panaeolus cyanescens
  • Panaeolus subbalteatus
  • Panaeolus venezolanus

Gymnopilus

Gymnopilus luteofolius
  • Gymnopilus aeruginosus
  • Gymnopilus luteofolius
  • Gymnopilus luteus
  • Gymnopilus purpuratus

Preparation methods

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely if ever occur all at once but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

The physical effects of psilocin can be broken down into several components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These are described below and generally include:

Cognitive effects

The cognitive effects of psilocin are described by many as extremely relaxing, profound and stoning in style when compared to other commonly used psychedelics such as LSD or 2C-B which tend to be energetic and stimulating. It contains a large number of psychedelic typical and unique cognitive effects.

The most prominent of these typical effects generally include:

Visual effects

Enhancements

Psilocin presents a full and complete array of possible visual enhancements which generally includes:

Distortions

As for visual distortions and alterations, the effects experienced are detailed below:

Geometry

The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as more similar in appearance to that of 4-AcO-DMT, Ayahuasca and 2C-E than LSD or 2C-B. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as intricate in complexity, abstract in form, organic in feel, structured in organization, brightly lit and multicoloured in scheme, glossy in shading, soft in its edges, large in size, slow in speed, smooth in motion, rounded in its corners, non-immersive in depth and consistent in intensity. They have a very "natural" feel to them and at higher dosages are significantly more likely to result in states of Level 8B visual geometry over Level 8A.

Hallucinatory states

Psilocin and its various other forms produce a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics. These effects generally include:

Auditory effects

The auditory effects of psilocin are common in their occurrence and exhibit a full range of effects which commonly includes:

Toxicity and harm potential

Psilocin is non-addictive, is not known to cause brain damage, and has extremely low toxicity relative to dose. Similar to other psychedelic drugs, there are relatively few physical side effects associated with psilocin exposure. Various studies have shown that in reasonable doses in a careful context, it presents no negative cognitive, psychiatric or toxic physical consequences of any sort.

Lethal dosage

The toxicity of psilocybin and psilocin is extremely low. In rats, the median lethal dose (LD50) of psilocybin when administered orally is 280 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). Psilocybin comprises approximately 1% of the weight of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms and so nearly 1.7 kilograms (3.7 lb) of dried mushrooms or 17 kilograms (37 lb) of fresh mushrooms would be required for a 60 kilogram (130 lb) person to reach the 280 mg/kg LD50 value of rats. Based on the results of animal studies, the lethal dose of psilocybin has been extrapolated to be 6 grams, 1000 times greater than the effective dose of 6 milligrams.

Tolerance and addiction potential

There are no known long term physical effects from the ingestion of mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin.

Psychedelic mushrooms are non-habit-forming and the desire to use them can actually decrease with use. They are most often self-regulating. There is an almost immediate tolerance build up after ingestion, preventing users from experiencing their full effects more often than once every 4-7 days, unless they increase their dose significantly.

Species Confusion

As psilocin/psilocybin is found in psychedelic mushrooms, there can be some risk in misidentifying mushroom species and accidentally consuming poisonous varieties. This can be avoided by educating oneself in advance on how to properly identify the correct species of mushroom and the potential look alike mushrooms found within one's local area.

Legal issues

The possession and sale of psilocin (including psilocybin and psilocybin-containing mushrooms) is prohibited in most countries.

  • Brazil: Psilocybin is illegal, but mushrooms fall under religious use laws.
  • British Virgin Isles: The sale of mushrooms is illegal, but possession and consumption is legal.
  • Bulgaria: The sale of mushrooms is illegal, but possession and consumption is legal.
  • Belgium: Possession and sale of mushrooms have been illegal since 1988.
  • Canada: Psilocybin and psilocin are illegal to possess, obtain or produce without a prescription or license as they are schedule III under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
  • Czech Republic: The sale of mushrooms is illegal, but possession and consumption is legal.
  • Cyprus The possession, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Denmark: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Finland: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Germany: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Greece: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Ireland: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Japan: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • Mexico: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal. Rules are relaxed regarding religious use however.
  • The Netherlands: Possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • New Zealand: Psilocybin is class A.
  • Norway: Possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal. Spores, even though not containing psilocybin, are also illegal.
  • Turkey: The possession, growth, sale and consumption of mushrooms is illegal.
  • UK: According to the 2005 Drugs Act, fresh and prepared psilocybin mushrooms are class A. [4]
  • USA: Psilocybin and psilocin are illegal Schedule I drugs. [5]

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe this compound within our experience index include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Psilocybin Investigator’s Brochure | http://www.maps.org/research/psilo/psilo_ib.pdf
  2. ↑ Kuhn, Cynthia; Swartzwelder, Scott; Wilson, Wilkie (2003). Buzzed: The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy. W.W. Norton & Company. p. 83. ISBN 0-393-32493-1.
  3. ↑ The oldest Representations of Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in the World | http://www.shroomery.org/6228/The-oldest-Representations-of-Hallucinogenic-Mushrooms-in-the-World
  4. ↑ Legislation - Drugs Act 2005| http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/17/contents
  5. ↑ FDA - Controlled Substances Act| http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/legislation/ucm148726.htm
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