Bright red with white spots, Amanita muscaria, often called the “fly agaric” mushroom, is one of the most recognizable mushrooms in the world. But beyond its storybook appearance, this mushroom is increasingly being marketed and sold across the United States in gummies, chocolates, tinctures, capsules, and dried caps.
In recent years, Amanita muscaria products have appeared in gas stations, smoke shops, and online retailers. Some individuals are using these products as alternatives to psilocybin, alcohol, or prescription medications. However, growing public health concerns center around unpredictable effects, inconsistent potency, mislabeling, and a lack of regulation. At Hanley Center, we believe education is essential. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Amanita Muscaria?
Amanita muscaria is a psychoactive mushroom that contains two primary active compounds:
- Muscimol
- Ibotenic acid
Unlike “magic mushrooms,” which contain psilocybin, Amanita muscaria works differently in the brain.
- Psilocybin primarily affects serotonin receptors.
- Muscimol primarily acts on the GABA system, which influences sedation, relaxation, and inhibition.
- Ibotenic acid acts on glutamate receptors and can have excitatory, potentially toxic effects.
Because it acts on different brain systems, the experience of Amanita muscaria is often described as more sedative, dissociative, or delirium-like rather than psychedelic in the traditional sense.
How Is Amanita Muscaria Being Sold?
Amanita muscaria is increasingly marketed in commercial forms, including:
- Gummies
- Chocolates
- Capsules or tablets
- Drink mixes and shots
- Tinctures
- Dried mushroom caps
- Extract powders
Many of these products are available:
- At gas stations
- In smoke shops
- Through online retailers
- Via social media advertising
Because Amanita muscaria is not regulated like prescription medications, product potency, preparation, and ingredient transparency can vary widely. Some online discussions suggest that certain products may be mislabeled, inconsistently dosed, or potentially adulterated. This lack of regulatory oversight increases risk.
What Are the Short-Term Effects of Amanita Muscaria?
Reported short-term effects may include:
- Sedation or extreme drowsiness
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle twitching
- Agitation
- “Dream-like” or delirious states
- Loss of coordination
- Difficulty distinguishing reality from imagination
Some individuals describe a state where they feel trapped between wakefulness and sleep, with vivid hallucinations or dream sequences blending into reality. There have also been reports of dangerous behaviors during intoxication, including accidental injury due to impaired judgment and confusion.
What Are the Potential Long-Term or Lingering Effects?
While research is still emerging, reported adverse effects of Amanita muscaria include:
- Vivid or disturbing dreams
- Depersonalization
- Visual disturbances
- “After-images” or trailing visuals
- Sensory distortions
- Dangerous behaviors during delirious states
- Symptoms resembling Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD)
Repeated use may also contribute to psychological instability, especially in individuals with underlying anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance use disorders.
Why Are People Using It?
People are using it as:
- As a substitute for alcohol
- As an alternative to psilocybin
- For self-medication and “microdosing” to manage anxiety or depression
- As self-medication to reduce withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines or gabapentinoids
- As part of “stacking” protocols (combining with LSD, psilocybin, or cannabis)
However, self-medicating with unregulated psychoactive substances can increase the risk of:
- Worsening mental health symptoms
- Substance dependence
- Accidental overdose
- Drug interactions
- Complicated withdrawal
Is Amanita Muscaria Addictive?
There is limited research on addiction potential. However, any substance that alters mood, sedation, or perception can become psychologically reinforcing.
When individuals use substances to cope with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Sleep problems
There is a risk of developing a pattern of reliance. At Hanley Center, we often see individuals who began using alternative or “legal” psychoactive products believing they were safer, only to find themselves struggling with dependency, worsening mental health symptoms, or polysubstance use.
Is Amanita Muscaria Legal in the United States?
One reason Amanita muscaria has grown in popularity is confusion around its legal status. Unlike psilocybin (“magic”) mushrooms, Amanita muscaria is not listed as a Schedule I substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. That means it is technically legal to possess and cultivate at the federal level. However, legal does not mean approved or safe.
As of December 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moved to restrict the use of Amanita muscaria in food products, including edibles. The FDA has stated that Amanita muscaria is considered a poisonous substance and is not approved for use in foods, beverages, or dietary supplements.
Key distinctions include:
- Not scheduled federally under the Controlled Substances Act
- Not FDA-approved for human consumption
- Classified as poisonous by federal authorities
- Restricted from use in food products as of December 2024
- State laws may vary; Louisiana currently has specific prohibitions on the sale for human consumption
Despite these restrictions, Amanita muscaria products are still widely available online and may be found in smoke shops, gas stations, and specialty retailers. This regulatory gray area has created significant confusion for consumers.
Why Has the FDA Restricted Amanita Muscaria Edibles?
The FDA’s 2024 action followed reports of:
- Poisonings
- Severe sedation
- Neurological complications
- Emergency room visits
- Deaths linked to mushroom-containing edible products
Unlike psilocybin, Amanita muscaria contains muscimol and ibotenic acid, compounds that act on GABA and glutamate receptors rather than serotonin receptors.
Improper preparation, particularly failure to adequately convert ibotenic acid into muscimol through decarboxylation, has been associated with:
- Severe nausea
- Agitation
- Delirium
- Confusion
- Loss of motor control
Even when prepared intentionally for muscimol conversion, high doses can cause:
- Extreme sedation
- Amnesia
- Disorientation
- Risk of accidental injury
The variability in preparation significantly increases unpredictability. Because these products are sometimes marketed as “legal mushroom gummies” or positioned as alternatives to alcohol or psilocybin, consumers may underestimate the risks.
Amanita Muscaria vs. Psilocybin: What’s the Difference?
Amanita muscaria is often confused with “magic mushrooms,” but they are chemically and legally distinct.
| Active compounds: muscimol & ibotenic acid | Active compound: psilocybin |
| Acts on GABA/glutamate systems | Acts on serotonin receptors |
| Not federally scheduled | Schedule I federally |
| Not FDA-approved | Also not FDA-approved |
| Often sold in retail edible products | Rarely sold legally outside research settings |
Both substances can alter perception, but their mechanisms, effects, and risks differ significantly.
When to Seek Help
If you or a loved one has used Amanita muscaria and is experiencing:
- Persistent confusion
- Severe anxiety
- Visual disturbances
- Blackouts or amnesia
- Ongoing sedation
- Difficulty distinguishing reality from dream-like states
- Continued use despite negative consequences
It may be time to seek a professional evaluation.
At Hanley Center, we provide integrated treatment for:
- Substance use disorders
- Substance-induced mental health conditions
- Co-occurring anxiety, mood, and trauma disorders
- Emerging drug trends and novel psychoactive substances
Call (561) 841-1033 to speak with an admissions specialist. Help is confidential and compassionate. Our medically supervised detox and Residential Mental Health Program are designed to address both the physical and psychological effects of emerging substances like Amanita muscaria.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amanita Muscaria
Is Amanita muscaria the same as magic mushrooms?
No. Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, which primarily affects serotonin receptors. Amanita muscaria contains muscimol and ibotenic acid, which affect GABA and glutamate systems and produce different effects.
Why do people say it’s unpredictable?
The potency varies widely between products and preparation methods. The ratio of muscimol to ibotenic acid significantly affects the experience.
Can Amanita gummies be dangerous?
Yes. Unregulated gummies may contain inconsistent doses or additional substances. Users report mislabeling and unpredictable reactions.
Can it cause hallucinations?
Yes, but the experience is often described as delirium-like or dreamlike rather than traditional psychedelic visuals.
Can you develop dependence?
While research is limited, psychological reliance is possible, especially if used to manage anxiety, insomnia, or withdrawal symptoms.
Emerging psychoactive products like Amanita muscaria are often marketed as natural or safer alternatives. But “natural” does not mean that unregulated substances are safe. If you’re concerned about your use or someone else’s, compassionate, evidence-based help is available. Call Hanley Center at (561) 841-1033 to speak confidentially with an admissions specialist. Recovery and informed decisions start with understanding.
