Mushroom Dosage Guide: How To Find Your Ideal Dose

Bad trips can happen at any time while using psychedelics, and one of the likely causes is taking a mushroom dosage you weren’t ready for. Reduce the risk of a bad trip by finding the right dose for your needs.

Once you have a bad trip, it’s hard to think about magic mushrooms again without the constant reminder of that experience. On the other hand, if you’re a beginner asking your friends what the best mushroom dosage is, they’ll probably suggest what works for them—but that doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. Psychedelic mushrooms have different levels of psilocybin depending on the strain and will affect everyone differently, even with the same dose.

With that in mind, when taking psychedelic mushrooms in Canada, you should always be careful with the dose since multiple factors can affect your trip. In this blog, we’ll explain how to find the right magic mushroom dosage, what kind of effects to expect, and how to create the best conditions for a safe and positive trip.

What is the active ingredient in magic mushrooms?

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms, but it’s not considered an active ingredient—rather, it’s a prodrug of psilocin. This means psilocybin itself is inactive until your body metabolizes it into psilocin, the active compound that causes psychedelic effects. Psilocin mimics the neurotransmitter serotonin and binds to certain serotonin receptors, which induces a change in mood, thought, and perception.

What is a good mushroom dosage to start with?

The reality is that there is no standard dose because psychedelic mushrooms affect people in different ways. What works for one person might not work the same for another, and that makes finding the right psilocybin dosage that much harder.

However, the most common dose users tend to consume is between 1 and 1.5 grams of dried mushrooms. But starting low and seeing how your body reacts before considering a higher dose is always better. After some trial and error, you’ll have a better grasp of your tolerance and intended psychedelic effects for your next mushroom trip.

How to find your ideal mushroom dosage

When it comes to psychedelics, always start low and go slow! Once you’ve had your first trip, take notes on how you felt—were the visuals too intense, or did you feel like you needed less? Use that information to adjust your mushroom dosage for next time because this process is about learning how your body reacts to psilocybin.

Remember: magic mushroom strains and products can affect you differently, even if the dosage is the same. This also rings true for the experience you have with shrooms. No two experiences will be the same because several factors can affect your experience depending on:

• your body weight
• your metabolism
• your tolerance and experience
• the simultaneous use of other substances
• your dose of shrooms
• the potency of mushrooms
• your set and setting

The most important things to consider are your experience level and tolerance to psilocybin, as well as the kind of trip you’d like. This can only come from starting with a low dose, noting your experience, and judging if you need more or less next time.

What effects will each mushroom dosage have?

Now that you’re more comfortable with dosing, the next step is learning what different doses can feel like. Whether you’re looking for just a subtle mood boost or an intense psychedelic trip, it’s important to understand how each mushroom dosage can affect your experience.

Microdose: 0.05 – 0.25g

A mushroom microdose is normally 10% to 20% of a recreational dose and ranges between 0.05 and 0.25 grams. It offers subtle yet noticeable benefits without sending you on a psychedelic trip. At this level, you’re likely to experience a slight boost in mood, a feeling of calm and focus, and increased productivity.

Mini-Dose: 0.25 – 0.75g

The mini-dose range of 0.25 to 0.75 grams induces mild euphoria and subtle visuals. You might notice colors appear a little brighter and patterns more intricate. The psychedelic effects are light but present It’s the ideal mushroom dosage for a relaxed trip where you want a sensory boost without losing connection to reality.

Museum Dose: 0.5 – 1.5g

A magic mushroom dosage of 0.5 to 1.5 grams allows you to experience more psychedelic effects. You’ll start to see colors becoming more vivid, along with open and closed-eye visuals, such as swirling patterns or “breathing” environments. While still aware of your surroundings, your thoughts may become more introspective, especially for art, nature, or deep conversations.

Moderate Dose: 2.0 – 3.5g

A psilocybin dosage of 2.0 to 3.5 grams will take you on a full psychedelic trip. Expect warped, kaleidoscopic visuals and strong euphoria or excitement. Hallucinations, both open and closed-eye, can take on a 3D quality, and you might even experience synesthesia, where your senses begin to overlap (like “hearing” colors or “seeing” sounds). This dose requires a calm, safe environment, as the psychedelic effects can become intense.

Megadose: 3.5 – 5.0g

At 3.5 and 5.0 grams, this magic mushroom dosage can be intense if you’re not ready for it. Heavy hallucinations, both visual and auditory, are common, and you may experience ego dissolution—where your sense of self begins to fade. Some people report out-of-body experiences or a feeling of oneness with the universe. This mushroom dosage should be taken in a safe environment, ideally with a trip sitter.

Heroic Dose: 5.0g +

The heroic dose, typically starting at 5 grams or more, is often a life-changing experience that is best taken in a dark and silent room—suggested by Terence McKenna, an advocate of the responsible use of magic mushrooms. At this level, you’ll experience strong hallucinations, ego death, euphoria, and dissociation from your reality. Heroic doses should only be attempted by those with prior psychedelic experience. Even so, proceed with caution; this is not a dose to take lightly.

How Long Does a Magic Mushroom Trip Last

A magic mushroom trip typically lasts 3 to 6 hours. However, the duration depends on the psilocybin dosage and consumption method—think dried mushrooms, tea, capsules, and edibles. Higher doses tend to make the trip last longer, whereas lower doses may end it sooner.

The peak effects usually occur around 2 to 3 hours in, and then the intensity gradually fades. Everyone’s body processes psilocybin differently, so your trip may feel shorter or longer depending on factors like your metabolism and tolerance.

Quick Tips for Safe Magic Mushroom Dosing

• Start with a small amount
• Measure a dose with a precision scale 
• Take shrooms on an empty stomach
• Don’t take more right away
• Clear your schedule for the day
• Have a trip sitter during your trip
• Create the optimal set and setting

Time to Try Shrooms

Dosing magic mushrooms can be tricky at first, but with some time, patience, and a bit of experimentation, you’ll eventually figure out what works best for you. While there’s no specific mushroom dosage guide, the key is to start low and go from there.

All that’s left to do is to buy magic mushrooms from a reliable source, and that’s where we come in! At Terra Astra, we stock a wide variety of dried psilocybin mushrooms, ready for delivery anywhere in Canada—hot spots include Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa. Check out our selection and get ready to enjoy shrooms with an open mind.