Psilocybin Dosage Chart and What the Depression Research Shows

Two questions come up more than any others: how much is a dose, and is it true that psilocybin helps with depression? This guide answers both in one place. First a simple dosage chart, then a plain-language tour of the clinical trials, what they found and what they did not.

The dosage chart

Every amount below is an approximate range of dried Psilocybe cubensis, the species behind almost every strain sold today. Mushrooms are a natural product, and potency can differ several times over between strains and even between batches, so treat these numbers as a starting point, not a promise. For capsules, chocolate and gummies, follow the label: those are measured in milligrams of mushroom per piece.

• Microdose, about 0.05 to 0.25 g: not meant to be felt. No visuals and no change in thinking. Usually taken on a schedule, such as one day on and two days off.
• Low dose, about 0.5 to 1 g: a gentle lift in mood, a light body buzz, music and colours a little richer. Clear-headed enough to hold a conversation. Lasts three to four hours.
• Moderate dose, about 1 to 2.5 g: what most people mean by a full trip. Clear visual changes, waves of emotion and stretched time. Lasts four to six hours. Plan a free day and have a sober friend nearby.
• Strong dose, about 2.5 to 3.5 g: deep immersion, and the sense of self can soften or dissolve. Lasts about six hours. For experienced people only, with a sober sitter.
• Very strong, 3.5 g and up: unpredictable and often overwhelming. Most difficult experiences reported in surveys happened at these amounts. Not recommended.

Effects usually begin 20 to 60 minutes after eating dried mushrooms, peak around 1.5 to 3 hours and fade over the following hours. Tea tends to come on faster; chocolate and gummies can take longer, especially on a full stomach. Never take more because you don't feel anything yet. For much more detail on each level, read our guide to magic mushroom dose sizes.

How trial doses compare

Clinical trials don't use mushrooms. They give a measured capsule of synthetic psilocybin, most often 25 mg, to people who have been carefully screened, with trained therapists present before, during and after the session. Because natural mushrooms vary so much, there is no exact conversion, but 25 mg of psilocybin sits somewhere around the strong end of the chart above for an average batch of dried cubensis. In other words, the depression research is about full, supervised experiences, not microdoses.

What the depression research found

Here are the trials most often cited, in plain terms.

• A 2021 Johns Hopkins trial in JAMA Psychiatry gave two psilocybin sessions with supportive therapy to adults with major depression. Four weeks later, 71% had a clinically significant response and about half were in remission. A 12-month follow-up found that for many participants the improvement lasted a year.
• A 2021 Imperial College London trial in the New England Journal of Medicine compared two psilocybin sessions with six weeks of escitalopram, a common antidepressant. On its main measure, psilocybin was not significantly better than the antidepressant. Several secondary measures leaned towards psilocybin, but the trial was not designed to prove that.
• A 2022 trial of 233 people with treatment-resistant depression, also in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that a single 25 mg dose reduced depression scores more than a 1 mg dose after three weeks. By twelve weeks the difference was no longer clear, and a small number of participants had serious adverse events, including suicidal thoughts and self-harm, more often at the higher doses.
• A 2023 trial of 104 people across 11 US sites, published in JAMA, compared one 25 mg dose with an active placebo. Depression scores dropped more after psilocybin, and the difference held through six weeks.

Together these are why regulators and researchers are taking psilocybin seriously. Larger phase 3 trials are under way to find out how big and how lasting the benefit really is.

What the research does not show

• It does not show that mushrooms you buy treat depression. Every trial used a measured dose, screening and professional support. Taking mushrooms alone is a different situation.
• The people in these trials were screened carefully. Anyone with a personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder was excluded, as were people at high risk of suicide.
• Many trials asked participants to stop antidepressants first. SSRIs can blunt psilocybin's effects, and lithium combined with psychedelics has been linked to seizures. Never stop or change a medication without your doctor. Our guide to psilocybin and medications explains more.
• Microdosing is a separate question. Placebo-controlled microdosing studies have mostly found results similar to placebo. See what microdosing research actually shows.

If you're struggling

Depression is serious and treatable. Talk to your doctor about your options, including clinical trials. In Canada, psilocybin-assisted therapy can only be accessed legally through Health Canada's Special Access Program or an authorized trial, both arranged by a physician. If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8, any time, or call 911.

The short version

Start low and go slow, use the chart as a guide rather than a rule, and remember that the promising depression results come from supervised, measured doses with professional care around them. For safe use basics, read our safety guide before your first experience.

Sources

• Davis et al. (2021), Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Psychiatry
• Gukasyan et al. (2022), Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up, Journal of Psychopharmacology
• Carhart-Harris et al. (2021), Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression, New England Journal of Medicine
• Goodwin et al. (2022), Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression, New England Journal of Medicine
• Raison et al. (2023), Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you have health questions, talk to a health professional.