Can Amanita Make You High and Hallucinate?

The genus Amanita contains many species of mushrooms, some of which are among the most toxic mushrooms in the world.  However, we are focusing on the psychoactive properties associated with certain types of Amanita mushrooms, particularly Amanita muscaria, also known as the fly agaric, and Amanita pantherina (Panther Cap).  Basically, the question on a lot of users’ minds is, “can amanita muscaria make you high?”  Well, we are going to answer that question in full detail here today.

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What are Certain Types of Amanita Mushroom You Should Want to Know?

The genus Amanita contains many species of mushrooms, some of which are among the most toxic known, as well as some that are highly regarded for their edibility.  We have laid out a brief overview of certain types of Amanita mushrooms, categorized by their notoriety and edibility.

Toxic and Deadly Amanitas:

1. Amanita Phalloides (Death Cap): This is perhaps the most infamous Amanita due to its lethal toxicity.  It contains amatoxins, which can cause severe liver and kidney damage.
2. Amanita Virosa (Destroying Angel): Similar in appearance to the Death Cap, this white mushroom is equally toxic and contains the same deadly amatoxins.
3. Amanita Verna (Fool’s Mushroom): Often mistaken for edible mushrooms, it shares the same deadly characteristics as the Death Cap and Destroying Angel.
4. Amanita Ocreata (Western North American Destroying Angel): Found in Western North America, it is also highly toxic and can be mistaken for edible species.
5. Amanita Bisporigera: Another North American species, this is also in the group commonly referred to as “destroying angels”.

Psychoactive Amanitas:

1. Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric): This iconic red mushroom with white spots is known for its psychoactive properties, due to compounds like muscimol and ibotenic acid.  It’s also toxic and can cause unpleasant side effects, so it should not be consumed without proper knowledge and caution.
2. Amanita Pantherina (Panther Cap):  Contains similar toxins to A. muscaria and can also produce psychoactive effects.  It’s less famous than the Fly Agaric but also dangerous.  It generally has a brownish cap with white warts, white gills, a white ring on the stem, and a bulbous base with a universal veil remnant.

Edible Amanitas:

1. Amanita Caesarea (Caesar’s Mushroom): Highly prized in some European and Mexican cuisines, this mushroom is considered safe to eat after proper cooking.  However, due to its resemblance to toxic species, it should only be harvested by experienced foragers.
2. Amanita Rubescens (The Blusher): This mushroom is edible when cooked, which helps to break down the mild toxins present in its raw state.

Miscellaneous Amanitas:

There are many other species within the Amanita genus that are neither well-known for their edibility nor notorious for their toxicity.  Some of these may have uncertain edibility status or may be understudied.

Important Notes:

• Identification: It’s crucial to note that mushroom identification should be done with extreme caution. Some edible Amanita mushrooms have close resemblances to deadly counterparts, and misidentification can lead to fatal consequences.
• Regional Variations: Mushroom species can vary regionally, and a mushroom that is considered edible in one area might have a toxic look-alike in another.
• Expert Consultation: Always consult with a local expert or mycologist before consuming any wild mushrooms, especially those from the Amanita genus.

Understanding the Compounds of Amanita Muscaria and Amanita Pantherina

Now, in order to gain better insight into the psychoactive effects of Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina mushrooms, we need to break down their compounds accordingly.

Amanita Muscaria Mushrooms Compounds

Amanita muscaria mushrooms have a storied history of usage in numerous cultures and shamanic contexts due to their psychoactive effects.  However, they contain zero psilocybin or psilocin.  Instead, the primary live ingredients are muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine.  In particular, muscimol and ibotenic acid are the main compounds responsible for Amanita muscaria’s psychoactive effects.  These compounds can cause altered states of consciousness. Amanita Muscaria can most certainly make you high and hallucinate, which we’ll explain below.

• Muscimol: A central nervous system depressant that may engage GABAa receptors to deliver sedative-hypnotic, depressant, and hallucinogenic psychoactivity.  It’s Amanita muscaria’s most potent psychoactive agent and 10x powerful than ibotenic acid.
• Ibotenic acid: Interacts with glutamate receptors, making it highly stimulating and energizing.  When mushrooms contain more ibotenic acid than muscimol, users typically report confusion, agitation, and euphoria.
• Muscarine: Exists in trace quantities and is the weakest psychoactive compound in this spotted species.  Still, this minor alkaloid acts on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the parasympathetic nervous system to produce notable effects, i.e., salivation and sweating.  Muscarine is also linked to sexual arousal, crying, urination, digestion, and defecation.

What are Amanita Muscaria’s Primary Effects?

It is crucial to note that the effects of Amanita muscaria and related species can be unpredictable and, in some cases, quite dangerous.  Alongside the sought-after psychoactive effects, these mushrooms can also cause a range of negative symptoms, including:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Muscle spasms and twitching
• Drowsiness
• Loss of coordination

In more severe cases, ingestion can lead to delirium, seizures, and coma.  The variability in potency not just from one species to another, but even between individual mushrooms of the same species, adds a high level of unpredictability and risk.

Amanita Muscaria vs. Psychedelic Mushrooms 

Amanita muscaria and “psychedelic mushrooms” (most often referring to those containing psilocybin such as Psilocybe cubensis) are both types of mushrooms with psychoactive properties, but they differ significantly in their chemical composition, effects, and legal status in various parts of the world.

Chemical Composition:

• Amanita Muscaria: This mushroom contains the psychoactive compounds ibotenic acid and muscimol.  When ingested, some of the ibotenic acid is decarboxylated into muscimol, which is thought to be the primary active agent.  These compounds interact with GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) receptors in the brain.  It’s worth noting that Amanita muscaria is not a psychedelic in the traditional sense, as it does not produce the serotonin-2A receptor-mediated hallucinations typical of psychedelics.
• Psychedelic Mushrooms: These fungi typically contain psilocybin and psilocin, which are structurally related to serotonin and are considered classic psychedelics.  They primarily exert their effects by activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, leading to altered perceptions, emotions, and cognition.

Effects of Amanita Muscaria Mushroom:

• Amanita Muscaria: The effects of Amanita muscaria can be quite different from traditional psychedelics and can vary widely among individuals.  Effects can include mild euphoria, altered hearing and taste, and at higher doses, delirium, muscle jerks, and altered consciousness.  Some users report entering a dream-like state. The experience can be unpredictable and is not typically sought after for spiritual or introspective purposes.
• Psychedelic Mushrooms: Psilocybin mushrooms tend to produce effects that can include visual and auditory hallucinations, an altered sense of time and reality, introspection, and in some cases, profound spiritual experiences.  Their effects are generally considered more predictable than those of Amanita muscaria.

Does Amanita Muscaria Really Make You Hallucinate?

Yes, Amanita muscaria can cause hallucinations along with a range of other effects.  Again, the psychoactive compounds responsible for these effects are primarily muscimol and, to a lesser extent, ibotenic acid.

When ingested, ibotenic acid can decarboxylate into muscimol, which is more potent in its psychoactive properties.  These substances can affect the central nervous system and cause altered states of consciousness.  To reiterate, the effects can include visual and auditory hallucinations, changes in sensory perceptions, mood changes, euphoria, relaxation, and in some cases, confusion and disorientation.

Amanita Pantherina Mushrooms Compounds

Amanita pantherina, also known as the panther cap or false blusher due to its resemblance to the true blusher (Amanita rubescens), is a species of mushroom found in the Northern Hemisphere.  It’s a part of the Amanitaceae family, which also includes other notable species like the highly toxic Amanita phalloides and the psychoactive Amanita muscaria.

The compounds found in Amanita pantherina are primarily psychoactive and can be quite toxic. Here are some of the main compounds:

• Ibotenic Acid: A neurotoxic compound that acts as a powerful agonist for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type of glutamate receptor in the brain.  It can cause excitotoxicity when consumed in high doses.
• Muscimol: A potent, psychoactive compound that is a GABA_A receptor agonist. Muscimol is actually the decarboxylated form of ibotenic acid, and it’s considered to be responsible for the majority of the mushroom’s psychoactive effects.  After ingestion, some of the ibotenic acid is decarboxylated into muscimol, which crosses the blood-brain barrier more effectively than ibotenic acid.
• Muscine:  Another compound related to the psychoactivity of the mushroom, though it’s less studied than ibotenic acid and muscimol.
• Bufotenine: A compound related to the neurotransmitter serotonin, and it has been reported in some Amanita species, though its presence and concentration in Amanita pantherina may vary.

These compounds can cause a range of effects, from nausea and dizziness to hallucinations – more on those in a little bit, and delirium.  The toxic effects can also include muscle twitching, convulsions, and even lead to more severe cases.  The mushroom’s effects are often unpredictable and can vary greatly between individuals, due in part to variable concentrations of the active compounds in different mushrooms and personal physiological differences in absorption and reaction.

What are Amanita Pantherina Primary Effects?

The main effects of Amanita pantherina are due to its psychoactive components, primarily ibotenic acid and muscimol.  When ingested, these compounds can produce a range of effects that are often unpredictable and can vary greatly between individuals. Some of the reported effects include:

• Altered Perception
• Psychoactive Effects
• Physical Discoordination
• Nausea and Gastrointestinal Upset
• Drowsiness
• Confusion and Memory Loss
• Cholinergic Effects

Keep in mind, the dosage and individual sensitivity can vary widely, and there is a thin line between a dose that might induce psychoactive effects and one that can cause some very unpleasant side effects.

Amanita Pantherina vs. Psychedelic Mushrooms

Amanita pantherina and “psychedelic mushrooms” (often referring to species containing the psychoactive compound psilocybin, like “Psilocybe cubensis”), are both types of mushrooms that can alter perceptions and consciousness.  However, they are quite different in terms of their chemical composition and effects.

Chemical Composition:

• Amanita Pantherina: The primary psychoactive compounds in Amanita pantherina are ibotenic acid and muscimol.  The former is a prodrug to the latter, which means that after consumption, ibotenic acid is converted to muscimol, which is responsible for the psychoactive effects..
• Psychedelic Mushrooms: These fungi typically contain psilocybin and psilocin, which are structurally related to serotonin and are considered classic psychedelics.  They primarily exert their effects by activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, leading to altered perceptions, emotions, and cognition.

Effects:

• Amanita Pantherina: Muscimol is a potent, selective agonist of the GABA(A) receptor. The effects of Amanita pantherina can include visual and auditory hallucinations, euphoria, altered perception of time and space, muscle twitching, drowsiness, and in some cases, nausea and loss of coordination. The effects can be unpredictable and vary greatly between individuals..
• Psychedelic Mushrooms: Psilocybin mushrooms tend to produce effects that can include visual and auditory hallucinations, an altered sense of time and reality, introspection, and in some cases, profound spiritual experiences.  Their effects are generally considered more predictable than those of Amanita pantherina.

Does Amanita Pantherina Really Make You Hallucinate?

Yes, as the ingestion of Amanita pantherina can indeed cause hallucinations due to these compounds.  When consumed, ibotenic acid can decarboxylate into muscimol, which is a potent psychoactive compound that can pass through the blood-brain barrier.  Again, muscimol acts as an agonist for GABA receptors in the brain, which can lead to altered states of consciousness, including visual and auditory hallucinations, distortions of reality, and changes in perception.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, all types of Amanita mushroom can make you high and cause hallucinations, even Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina.  Still, keep in mind though that the potency of the mushroom can vary widely based on factors such as the region where it’s grown and the specific conditions of growth, making it unpredictable and risky to consume if not handled or produced properly. 

Also, due to the high stakes of proper identification with Amanita species, foraging for them is generally not recommended for novices.  Hence, as the saying goes, “When in doubt, throw it out”, is particularly relevant here.

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