Unrecognized magic mushroom abuse in a 28-year-old man.
Ryan L McClintock, David J Watts, Scott Melanson
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine October 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2008.01.058 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 28-year-old man with a history of drug and alcohol abuse |
| Duration | Symptoms recurred over 2 months |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Humans Mushroom poisoning Diagnosis, differential Adult Male |
| Key findings | The authors believe the patient's recurring altered mental status, vomiting, diaphoresis, and mydriasis are consistent with Psilocybe mushroom toxicity, diagnosed by exclusion and anecdotal data after the patient admitted mushroom use. They argue that considering mushroom abuse initially would have led to better resource utilization. |
Abstract
A 28-year-old man with a history of drug and alcohol abuse presented multiple times to the hospital over 2 months with an elusive constellation of symptoms, resolving spontaneously in each instance. This patient required a high level of care for management and stabilization, including 3 emergency department visits, 2 medical floor admissions, and 1 intensive care unit admission. In both the emergency department and inpatient setting, all laboratory and imaging study results, including gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry of the urine, were negative/normal. A definitive diagnosis eluded multiple emergency medicine, critical care, and consulting physicians. His symptoms included altered mental status, vomiting, diaphoresis, and mydriasis. The patient later admitted using mushrooms to a nurse. In the absence of confirmatory testing, but supported by exclusionary and anecdotal data, we believe that our patient's symptoms are consistent with Psilocybe mushroom toxicity. We feel that had this been considered initially, the correct diagnosis would have led to a better utilization of resources, and we want to remind emergency physicians of the possibility of mushroom abuse in any similar clinical setting.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin Mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) Intoxication with Myocardial Infarction 18-year-old man | 1998 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Relief from intractable phantom pain by combining psilocybin and mirror visual-feedback (MVF) Person with leg amputation and phantom-limb pain | 2018 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Microdosing psilocybin for chronic pain: a case series Individuals with chronic neuropathic pain | 2022 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Abuse of Magic Mushroom, Peyote Cactus, LSD, Khat, and Volatiles Critical Issues in Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse Testing 2019
- Neuroimaging features of psilocybin-induced toxic-metabolic encephalopathy in an adolescent BMJ Case Reports March 1, 2024
- Psilocybin-based mushrooms and usage Case Reports and Reviews April 30, 2023
- Abuse of Magic Mushrooms, Peyote Cactus, Khat, and Solvents: No Readily Available Laboratory Tests July 9, 2012