How long do shrooms last? Onset, peak and comedown
A psilocybin experience usually lasts about 4 to 7 hours. Effects typically begin 20 to 60 minutes after taking mushrooms, peak around 1 to 2 hours in, and fade over the following few hours. In a 2023 controlled study, subjective effects lasted about 5.5 to 6.4 hours on average.
On this page
| Phase | Typical timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Onset | 20 to 60 min | First changes in mood, perception and body sensations |
| Peak | About 1 to 2 hours in | Strongest effects; blood psilocin levels peak around 2 hours |
| Comedown | Hours 3 to 6 | Effects gradually fade |
| Total | About 4 to 7 hours | A 2023 controlled study averaged 5.5 to 6.4 hours of subjective effects |
| After | Up to 24 hours | A delayed headache is common in studies and usually resolves within a day |
What the research shows
In a 2023 controlled study published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, healthy volunteers given psilocybin in a lab reported subjective effects lasting an average of 5.6, 5.5 and 6.4 hours at three different dose levels, and blood levels of psilocin peaked about 2 hours after dosing. Earlier studies described effects beginning within 20 to 40 minutes, peaking 60 to 90 minutes after dosing, and diminishing over the following 60 to 90 minutes, with residual effects for a few more hours. Harm-reduction services in Switzerland describe a typical onset of 15 to 60 minutes and a duration of 3 to 7 hours.
In the body, psilocybin is converted to psilocin, which is cleared with a half-life of roughly 1.5 to 4 hours. That's why the experience rarely lasts more than a working day, and why even specialized tests usually can't find it after about a day. See do shrooms show up on a drug test.
What changes how long it lasts
- Amount and potency. Larger amounts last longer, and mushrooms vary widely in strength, even within one species or strain. If you're trying to understand how amount relates to body weight, My Mushroom Dispensary's magic mushroom dosage calculator shows its estimated ranges; it's a retailer's tool, not medical advice (this site's publisher has a business relationship with the retailer).
- Food and form. Taking mushrooms on an empty or full stomach, or in tea or capsules, can shift how quickly effects begin.
- Other substances. Antidepressants often weaken effects; cannabis can intensify them. See our interactions guide.
- Your body. Metabolism, body size and individual sensitivity all play a role.
How long does a microdose last?
A microdose is a small amount meant to produce no obvious trip. Research hasn't measured microdose "duration" the way it has full doses, and placebo-controlled trials have found it hard to tell microdoses from placebo at all (see our microdosing research review). For a practical description of what people report hour by hour, see My Mushroom Dispensary's guide to microdose effects and timing.
When is it safe to drive?
Not until all effects are completely gone, which for most people means waiting at least the rest of the day. Oregon's rules require a transportation plan for every service-center client, and that plan can't let the client drive, bike or use any other self-operated transportation after a session. That's a good rule anywhere.
If a trip is going badly
- Fireside Project psychedelic support, call or text 62-FIRESIDE, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pacific
- Medical emergency: 911. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for shrooms to kick in?
Usually 20 to 60 minutes. Clinical studies describe effects starting within about 20 to 40 minutes, and harm-reduction services cite a range of 15 to 60 minutes. Food in the stomach and the form taken can shift the timing.
How long does a shroom trip last?
Typically about 4 to 7 hours in total. In a 2023 controlled study, subjective effects lasted 5.5 to 6.4 hours on average, depending on the dose. Some people feel lingering effects for longer.
When do shrooms peak?
Most people feel the strongest effects about 1 to 2 hours after taking them. Blood levels of psilocin, the active compound, peaked about 2 hours after dosing in a 2023 study.
Can you stop a shroom trip early?
There's no safe at-home way to end it, but effects always wear off. A calm setting, a trusted sober person and peer support from Fireside Project (62-FIRESIDE) can help. Get emergency care for seizures, chest pain or trouble breathing.
Sources
- Holze et al., pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psilocybin, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2023.
- Johnson et al., the abuse potential of medical psilocybin (summarizing onset, peak and duration studies), Neuropharmacology, 2018.
- Hasler et al., acute effects of psilocybin in healthy humans, Psychopharmacology, 2004.
- Meshkat et al., psilocybin pharmacokinetics review, Pharmaceutics, 2025.
- Otto et al., population pharmacokinetics of psilocin, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2025.
- Saferparty.ch psilocybin information, City of Zurich drug information service.
- OAR 333-333-5000 and 333-333-5150, administration sessions and transportation plans, Oregon Administrative Rules.