Last update July 21, 2023

Psilocybine

Limited compatibility

Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.

Psilocin and psilocybin are indole alkaloids obtained from the Mexican mushroom Psilocybe mexicana and other mushrooms (Psilocybe semilanceata o seta mágica, Stropharia cubensis, Conocybe, Panaeolus, Gymnopilus, Stropharia, Pluteus and Panaeolina). Psilocybin is metabolised in the body to the active form psilocin. It has psychedelic (NIH 2023), hallucinogenic and sympathomimetic properties similar to those of lysergide (LSD) and mescaline, but less potent. Its hallucinogenic effects last up to 6 hours. It has no therapeutic use. Oral or smoked administration. (Martindale, Dinis-Oliveira 2017, Tylš 2014, Passie 2002)

At the date of the last update we did not find any published data on its excretion in breast milk.

The paucity of published pharmacokinetic data does not allow prediction of the amount of possible excretion into breast milk.

May produce increased prolactin secretion. (Holze 2022, Hasler 2004)

It is known from pharmacokinetics that after 5 elimination half-lives (T½) 96.9% of an ingested substance is eliminated from the body, and after 7 T½ the plasma concentrations of the substance are negligible and would constitute the safe waiting period for resuming breast-feeding after taking Psilocybine. 
Taking the published T½ (3 h) as a reference, this 7 T½ would correspond to 21 hours. In the meantime, breast milk should be expressed and discarded regularly if breastfeeding is to be resumed.

Psychotropic drugs of abuse render the mother incapable of caring for her child, endangering the life and health of both.

Bed-sharing with the baby is not recommended if you are taking this drug.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Group

Psilocybine belongs to this group or family:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 50 %
Molecular weight 284 daltons
pKa 1.74 -
Tmax 1.3 - 1.7 hours
2.7 - 3 hours

References

  1. Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference Medicines Complete. available online from: https://www.medicinescomplete.com 2022 Abstract
  2. Holze F, Ley L, Müller F, Becker AM, Straumann I, Vizeli P, Kuehne SS, Roder MA, Duthaler U, Kolaczynska KE, Varghese N, Eckert A, Liechti ME. Direct comparison of the acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide and psilocybin in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 May;47(6):1180-1187. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  3. Dinis-Oliveira RJ. Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance. Drug Metab Rev. 2017 Feb;49(1):84-91. Abstract
  4. Tylš F, Páleníček T, Horáček J. Psilocybin--summary of knowledge and new perspectives. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 Mar;24(3):342-56. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  5. Hasler F, Grimberg U, Benz MA, Huber T, Vollenweider FX. Acute psychological and physiological effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-effect study. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Mar;172(2):145-56. Epub 2003 Nov 13. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  6. Passie T, Seifert J, Schneider U, Emrich HM. The pharmacology of psilocybin. Addict Biol. 2002 Oct;7(4):357-64. Review. Abstract

Total visits

11,108

Help us improve this entry

How to cite this entry

Do you need more information or did not found what you were looking for?

   Write us at elactancia.org@gmail.com

e-lactancia is a resource recommended by Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine - 2015 of United States of America

Would you like to recommend the use of e-lactancia? Write to us at corporate mail of APILAM