Amanita Muscaria

Last updated: May 4, 2025

Amanita Muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, is a distinctive mushroom found in temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with a history of human use dating back millennia, particularly among Siberian shamans. Its effects stem primarily from the compounds ibotenic acid and muscimol, which interact with the central nervous system, notably through muscimol's action as a GABAA receptor agonist, producing psychoactive and potentially toxic effects. Studies and case reports consistently highlight its poisonous nature, linking ingestion to symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal upset and CNS excitation/depression to severe outcomes like coma and, rarely, death, with no clinical evidence supporting therapeutic benefits.

Categories & Effectiveness
Dosage & Side Effects
Benefits by Use Case
Mechanism of Action
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary & Expert Opinion
Research Studies

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Categories & Effectiveness

Brain Health

GABA Support

7/10

Strong evidence of effectiveness

Dosage & Side Effects

Recommended Dosage

Determining a standard dose for Amanita Muscaria is challenging as effects depend heavily on the dose, mushroom processing, individual health, and even where it was collected; however, case reports note severe poisoning or fatality from doses ranging from 0.5 grams daily (microdosing) to 4 dried caps. Effects are dose-dependent, with large quantities potentially fatal; animal studies indicate high acute toxicity with LD50 values (oral mouse) of 22 mg/kg for muscimol and 38 mg/kg for ibotenic acid. Accidental ingestion, particularly by children, can lead to significant symptoms requiring medical intervention, as seen in reported pediatric cases.

Potential Side Effects

Common effects following ingestion often include a mix of gastrointestinal upset (nausea, vomiting), central nervous system (CNS) depression (dizziness, lethargy, ataxia, tiredness), and CNS excitation (agitation, muscle fasciculations, visual and auditory hypersensitivity, space distortion). Severe poisoning, especially with higher doses, can lead to serious risks including seizures, coma, and in rare instances, fatality. Risk factors include the amount consumed, the specific Amanita species (e.g., A. pantherina may cause more symptoms than A. muscaria), mushroom preparation methods, individual health status, and accidental ingestion, particularly in children.

Benefits by Use Case

Perceived psychological effects

Users may attempt to achieve mood alteration or anxiety reduction, sometimes through microdosing, but there's no clinical proof of benefit and serious adverse events like hospitalization have occurred even at low doses.

Recreational psychoactive experience

Consumption can induce altered states including changes in perception, mood, and cognition (e.g., hallucinations, time distortion), however, these effects are highly unpredictable and come with significant risks of toxicity including severe poisoning.

Mechanism of Action

The primary psychoactive effects of Amanita Muscaria are attributed to muscimol, a potent agonist of the GABAA receptor, which is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the brain. Ibotenic acid, also present in the mushroom, acts as a precursor and can be converted to muscimol in the body; ibotenic acid itself has neurotoxic properties related to glutamate receptors. Muscimol's binding to GABAA receptors enhances inhibitory neurotransmission, particularly in forebrain regions like the hippocampus and thalamus, leading to the characteristic sedative, dissociative, and hallucinogenic effects, distinguishing it mechanistically from classic psychedelics like psilocybin that primarily target serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amanita Muscaria poisonous?

What are the main effects of Amanita Muscaria?

Is Amanita Muscaria legal?

Can Amanita Muscaria be used for anxiety or depression?

How is Amanita Muscaria different from psilocybin mushrooms?

What happens if you eat too much Amanita Muscaria?

Are Amanita Muscaria products safe?

Summary & Expert Opinion

Amanita Muscaria is a psychoactive mushroom known for its distinct appearance and historical use, but it contains potent toxins (muscimol, ibotenic acid) and poses significant health risks. While its unique GABAA-mediated psychoactive effects are notable, its high toxicity, unpredictable nature, lack of safety data, absence of proven therapeutic benefits, and unregulated market presence are critical limitations. Due to the severe risks, including poisoning, coma, and potential fatality, and the lack of regulatory oversight ensuring product safety or consistency, Amanita Muscaria cannot be recommended for consumption. Anyone seeking cognitive benefits or mental health support, along with children and individuals using other CNS depressants, should strictly avoid Amanita Muscaria due to its inherent dangers and unpredictable effects.

Research Studies

Showing 5 of 10 studies

Exploring User Experiences with Amanita muscaria (2025)

adverse effects positive effects reasons for use +2 more

Findings:

Analysis of Reddit discussions revealed themes including adverse effects, perceived positive outcomes, reasons for use, modes of consumption, and thought perceptions. Users reported experiencing more positive than adverse effects, with adverse effects described as minimal and primarily self-limiting.

Participants:

Users of the 'r/AmanitaMuscaria' subreddit on Reddit

Study Quality Assessment:

Thematic analysis of 998 principal posts and 9,542 comments from Reddit. Acknowledges that 'no clinical studies exist thus far'. Methodology involves analyzing online forum discussions.

All Effects:

adverse effects positive effects reasons for use self-reported experiences thought perceptions

HARMFULNESS AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE FLY AGARIC (AMANITA MUSCARIA): A LITERATURE REVIEW (2025)

dose-dependent effects psychoactive properties toxicity

Authors:

Julia Grochowska, Marcin Weiner, Natalia Grygoruk

Findings:

Fly agaric possesses psychoactive properties and is toxic, potentially fatal in large quantities. The effects experienced depend on the dose, mushroom processing method, individual health, and collection location of the mushroom.

Dosage:

Effects depend on the dose taken; large quantities can be fatal.

Scientific Memorandum: Amanita Muscaria (2024)

poisoning psychoactive toxicity

Two Cases of Severe Amanita Muscaria Poisoning Including a Fatality (2022)

poisoning psychotropic effects public health +2 more

Findings:

The unregulated sale of Amanita muscaria products presents public health risks due to the toxicity of muscimol and ibotenic acid, evidenced by severe poisoning cases including a fatality. The text highlights increasing consumer interest, potential confusion with psilocybin, lack of regulatory oversight (e.g., age restrictions, testing standards, accurate labeling), and calls for urgent public health and regulatory responses.

Participants:

The text discusses case reports involving a 44-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman who consumed Amanita muscaria. It also references toxicity data derived from oral mouse and rat models.

Dosage:

Mentions a fatal case involving ingestion of '4 dried Amanita muscaria mushroom caps' and a hospitalization case involving '0.5 grams daily for 2 weeks' (microdosing). Provides LD50 values for oral mouse models: Muscimol 22 mg/kg, Ibotenic acid 38 mg/kg. Notes an advertised product example: '10 gummies packing a total of 500 mgs each'.

Study Quality Assessment:

The text is published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. It cites numerous references, presents LD50 data from animal models (mouse, rat), describes methods for Google Trends analysis (autoregressive integrated moving average model), acknowledges limitations (lack of safety data, lack of testing standards), and discloses funding sources (California Tobacco Related Disease Research Program grant T32IP4684, U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse grant K01DA054303) stating funders had no role.

All Effects:

poisoning psychotropic effects public health regulation toxicity

Natural Product (Fungal and Herbal) Novel Psychoactive Substances (2013)

analgesic hallucinogenic pharmacology +2 more

Authors:

Simon Gibbons, Warunya Arunotayanun

Findings:

This chapter reviews natural product novel psychoactive substances (fungal and herbal 'legal highs'), covering their chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. These substances often produce stimulant-, hallucinogenic-, or analgesic-like effects, contain phenylethylamine/tryptamine derivatives, are easily acquired, but lack comprehensive modern analysis, and their legal status varies.

Study Quality Assessment:

Acknowledges that up-to-date chemical and pharmacological analysis of these materials is often absent, with little understanding of their effects singularly or in combination.

All Effects:

analgesic hallucinogenic pharmacology stimulant toxicology

Amanita Muscaria -Overview

poisoning psychoactive

Ibotenic Acid Biosynthesis in the Fly Agaric Is Initiated by Glutamate ...

biosynthesis fly agaric glutamate hydroxylation +1 more

Findings:

Ibotenic acid biosynthesis in the fly agaric is initiated by glutamate hydroxylation.

All Effects:

biosynthesis fly agaric glutamate hydroxylation ibotenic acid

Monoamines in the brain under the influence of muscimol and ibotenic acid, two psychoactive principles of amanita muscaria

Authors:

H. Langemann, P. G. Waser, P. König-Bersin

Participants:

Animal model: Male Mice (based on MeSH terms 'Animals', 'Mice', 'Male')

Study Quality Assessment:

Methods mentioned: Fluorometry; Analysis of specific brain regions (Hypothalamus, Medulla Oblongata, Mesencephalon, Pons); Substances studied: Fenclonine, Probenecid (based on MeSH terms)

The Deceptive Mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria Poisoning

central nervous system effects coma poisoning +1 more

Findings:

Amanita muscaria is highly poisonous, primarily affecting the central nervous system. Severe poisoning can lead to coma and rarely death. Rapid identification is crucial for risk assessment and treatment.

All Effects:

central nervous system effects coma poisoning toxicity

Toxicity of muscimol and ibotenic acid containing mushrooms reported to a regional poison control center from 2002-2016

CNS depression CNS excitation gastrointestinal symptoms +2 more

Findings:

Ingestion of ibotenic acid/muscimol containing mushrooms (Amanita muscaria, A. pantherina, A. aprica) often caused a syndrome involving GI upset, CNS excitation, and CNS depression. A. pantherina (AP) ingestion was associated with higher rates of GI symptoms, CNS depression, and CNS excitation compared to A. muscaria (AM). Five patients required intubation, but no deaths, hypotension, seizures, acute kidney injury, or hepatotoxicity occurred.

Participants:

34 cases reported to a regional poison center, including accidental pediatric ingestions (e.g., a 3-year-old male). Reasons for ingestion included foraging (12), recreational (6), accidental (12), therapeutic (1), self-harm (1), and unknown (2).

Study Quality Assessment:

Retrospective review of cases reported to a United States regional poison center from 2002-2016. N=34 cases. Inclusion criteria: identification by a mycologist or clear description of Amanita muscaria (AM).

All Effects:

CNS depression CNS excitation gastrointestinal symptoms poisoning toxicity

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Categories & Effectiveness

Brain Health

GABA Support

Dosage & Side Effects

Recommended Dosage

Potential Side Effects

Benefits by Use Case

Perceived psychological effects

Recreational psychoactive experience

Mechanism of Action

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary & Expert Opinion

Research Studies

Exploring User Experiences with Amanita muscaria (2025)

Findings:

Participants:

Study Quality Assessment:

All Effects:

HARMFULNESS AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE FLY AGARIC (AMANITA MUSCARIA): A LITERATURE REVIEW (2025)

Authors:

Findings:

Dosage:

Scientific Memorandum: Amanita Muscaria (2024)

Findings:

Two Cases of Severe Amanita Muscaria Poisoning Including a Fatality (2022)

Findings:

Participants:

Dosage:

Study Quality Assessment:

All Effects:

Natural Product (Fungal and Herbal) Novel Psychoactive Substances (2013)

Authors:

Findings:

Study Quality Assessment:

All Effects:

Amanita Muscaria -Overview

Findings:

Ibotenic Acid Biosynthesis in the Fly Agaric Is Initiated by Glutamate ...

Findings:

All Effects:

Monoamines in the brain under the influence of muscimol and ibotenic acid, two psychoactive principles of amanita muscaria

Authors:

Participants:

Study Quality Assessment:

The Deceptive Mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria Poisoning

Findings:

All Effects:

Toxicity of muscimol and ibotenic acid containing mushrooms reported to a regional poison control center from 2002-2016

Findings:

Participants:

Study Quality Assessment:

All Effects:

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