Agaricus Muscarius Side-Effects

Agaricus Muscarius, commonly known as Fly Agaric and also called Amanita Muscaria, is a variety of mushroom with psychoactive properties. This fungus has a history of use as an entheogen (natural drug) by the peoples of Siberia. Today, it is used in homeopathic medicine, as well as recreationally. Fly Agaric, however, has a number of unpleasant side-effects.

Medicinal Use

• Fly Agaric is often consumed in homeopathic medicine. Homeopathy is a practice that uses a drug's effects as its indications as well. In layman's terms, the way a healthy person acts or feels on the drug is recorded, and the drug is assigned to patients who act or feel in that manner in an unaltered state. In homeopathic medicine, Fly Agaric is assigned to patients with extreme delirium, vertigo, involuntary twitching, abdominal pains, cold sensations, convulsions and a number of other symptoms.

Recreational Effects

• Agaricus Muscarius is occasionally used as a recreational drug, notably in the United Kingdom and Lithuania. In this respect, it acts as a hallucinogen, producing effects such as euphoria, relaxation, changes in mood, and visual and auditory distortions. It also produces a heavy intoxication similar to alcohol. But the effects are not consistent, and may vary from person to person.

Side-Effects

• Agaricus Muscarius has a number of side-effects that vary in number and severity depending on the dose. Most common among them are nausea, drowsiness, twitching, low blood pressure, perspiration and excessive salivation, confusion and ataxia. These effects can also vary based on the environment and setting of the Agaricus Muscarius user.

Overdose Effects

• If too much Fly Agaric is consumed, it can result in severe poisoning, which carries a whole new set of unpleasant effects. Severe poisoning is usually accompanied by extreme delirium, rage, confusion, strong hallucinations and irritability. Additionally, seizures or a coma may result from an overdose.

Fly Agaric as a Food

• Fly Agaric is not only consumed for its psychoactive effects. It is also eaten in some cultures after being detoxified by boiling. It has been most notably consumed by Russian settlers in Siberia, and some groups of colonial Americans.