Translated from our German original by AI. The German text was researched, written, and edited by the Psychedelia Foundation team and remains the authoritative version.
The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is increasingly used as a psychoactive substance for recreational and self-treatment purposes and, according to a narrative review, poses new challenges for toxicology and public health. The author sees the mushroom moving into the orbit of new psychoactive substances (NPS) because of the way it is marketed and used, even though it is anything but a new drug.
Amanita muscaria is promoted through online platforms and social media for stress reduction, mood improvement, sleep support, and pain relief, among other uses. Clinical evidence for these applications is limited, the review notes, while the toxicological risks are known.
The review summarizes the available clinical and toxicological findings on the health consequences of use. Reports of deliberate use are increasing. At the same time, the author describes inconsistent dosing practices as well as poisoning cases with a broad range of symptoms, from mild neurological complaints through to severe intoxications that may require inpatient treatment.
In the author’s assessment, experience reports circulating online and informal harm-reduction advice could contribute to normalising use and to underestimating the health risks. As a result, Amanita muscaria is increasingly used in digital drug markets and self-experimentation cultures.
The author sees a regulatory and public health challenge in this. The absence of standardized guidelines for treating poisonings, and of systematic monitoring, makes the clinical handling of such cases more difficult. He therefore argues for greater awareness of the toxicological profile of fly agaric, of typical patterns of use, and of emergency treatment strategies, in order to better support physicians, toxicologists, and health authorities.
Ordak M. (2026), Amanita muscaria in the evolving novel psychoactive substances landscape – toxicological risks and clinical implications: a narrative review, Front Pharmacol. 17: 1838212.
