A 30-year-old Nebraska man experienced a highly unusual side effect after he injected himself with “shroom” tea. The shrooms, or “magic mushrooms” contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic drug that produces effects similar to LSD. Categorized as a schedule-I controlled substance, it presents a high risk for abuse while also not providing any known benefits for medical purposes. However, those who use magic mushrooms might disagree. Many take the drug to experience a sense of euphoria, despite the sensory distortions common to those “on” magic mushrooms. In the case of the patient, he suffered organ failure and doctors found magic mushrooms “growing” in his bloodstream. (1,2)

Magic Mushrooms Self-Prescribed

The man injected the psychedelic mushroom tea into his veins after researching ways to decrease opioid use according to his family. He suffers from bipolar disorder type 1 and had stopped taking his medication. This caused manic and depressive episodes. (1)

He was taken to emergency when family members found him sick and confused. He had read about magic mushrooms and that psilocybin might help treat anxiety and depression. There has been growing interest in psilocybin by researchers looking for an alternate treatment for traditional antidepressants. (1,3)

Magic Mushroom Studies

Johns Hopkins and New York University researchers studied the use of psilocybin on cancer patients suffering from anxiety and depression following their cancer diagnoses. The study found most patients did experience immediate improvements after treatment using psilocybin, as well as improvement over time. (3)

The study also found cancer patients showed a decrease in cancer-related demoralization and hopelessness. Many experienced improved spiritual wellbeing, and an increased quality of life. In about 60 to 80% of the participants, they continued to see a significant reduction in depression or anxiety and even improved attitudes towards death. (3)

Magic Mushrooms Taken Orally

The issue for the Nebraska man was taking the drug via injection. This led to the mushrooms growing in his bloodstream. Usually, the mushrooms are taken orally either in their original form, as a powder, or tea. (1)

In the case of the Nebraska patient, he created a tea by boiling the mushrooms, filtering them, and then injecting them into his bloodstream. In a few days he became very tired, and later suffered from diarrhea and nausea, vomited blood, and developed jaundice. Luckily, his family found him and rushed him to the hospital. (1)

Magic Mushroom Tea Caused Organ Failure

According to doctors at the hospital, he was unable to provide coherent answers. However, tests showed he had a liver injury, poor kidney function, and was going into organ failure. His bloodwork showed the mushrooms growing in his bloodstream. (1)

As a result, doctors filtered his blood for toxins and placed him on a ventilator to help him breathe. He required a 22 day stay in the hospital, two types of antibiotics, and an antifungal treatment he had to take after leaving the hospital. (1)

Negative And Positive Effect Of Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin can have both positive and negative physical and psychological effects. Although it is not addictive, it does pose possible issues as it can trigger psychotic episodes. Because of this, people with a history of schizophrenia either themselves or in the family as well as early-onset mental illness should avoid mushrooms as it could cause an adverse psychiatric reaction. (2)