Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)

Poisoning first

Amanita muscaria is a highly poisonous mushroom. Its main effects are on the central nervous system, and in severe poisoning a person can fall into a coma; rarely, deaths occur. [1] Do not wait for symptoms to pass. In the US call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, and see poisoning: what to do first and plant and mushroom poisoning. For animals see pet and animal poisoning. In the US, 988 reaches the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This page does not help identify mushrooms, and a photo or name is never proof that a mushroom is safe.

Evidence labels used here: evidence of harm, insufficient evidence, marketing claim. "Proper evidence not found" means we looked and found nothing usable.

What it is, and what it is not

Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric, is accepted in the GBIF backbone (authority (L.) Lam., 1783) in the family Amanitaceae, with many historical synonyms. [2] Its active compounds are ibotenic acid and muscimol. [3] These are different from the compounds in the classic psychedelics that NIDA groups together (psilocybin, LSD, DMT, mescaline). [4] It should not be confused with psilocybin mushrooms: see the Psilocybe species directory and the page on classic psychedelics.

A review of the mushroom's chemistry, biology and toxicology says its use began in ancient times and is connected with mysticism. [3] We do not summarize specific peoples' practices here; see Indigenous traditions, ethics and conservation.

Naming

Genetic work found that A. muscaria in the broad sense comprises three groups ("Eurasian," "Eurasian-alpine" and "North American") that the authors interpret as cryptic phylogenetic species with overlapping ranges. [5] So "Amanita muscaria" can cover more than one genetic lineage, and composition and toxicity may differ in ways not yet mapped.

How the toxins act

Case reports describe ibotenic acid as an excitatory amino acid acting at glutamate receptors and muscimol as an agonist at GABA receptors, which can alter nerve signaling in the brain. [6] Poisoning produces a pattern of both excitation and depression of the nervous system. [7]

How serious can it be?

• Case reports. Ingestion was traditionally considered benign, but a 2022 report of two cases showed it should not be. One man died nine days after cardiopulmonary arrest; a 75-year-old who accidentally ate a foraged cap needed a breathing tube and recovered fully. The authors identify high-risk features. [7] In a Swiss case a patient fell into a coma after accidental poisoning and was discharged on the fourth day, with rapid identification of the mushroom helping treatment. [1]
• Poison-center data. A US regional poison center reviewed 34 cases from 2002 to 2016 (23 A. muscaria, 10 A. pantherina, 1 other). Of 25 symptomatic patients, nearly all developed symptoms within 6 hours; five were intubated; no deaths were reported. Stomach and intestinal upset, nervous-system excitation and depression were seen alone or together. [8]
• Two syndromes. In a poison-center study of 32 A. muscaria and 17 A. pantherina patients, A. muscaria patients were more often confused (26 of 32) and agitated (20 of 32), while A. pantherina patients were more often comatose (5 of 17 versus 2 of 32). [9] See Amanita pantherina.
• Recent clinical series. Four men hospitalized in Lithuania in 2023 after intentional use had symptoms including tremors, respiratory failure, dizziness and paranoia, and all were discharged in stable condition. [10]

These are case reports and series. They show that serious outcomes occur, not how often. Label: evidence of harm.

Edibles, gummies and the FDA

In December 2024 the US Food and Drug Administration told food manufacturers that A. muscaria, its extracts and certain constituents (muscimol, ibotenic acid and muscarine) are not authorized as ingredients in conventional food. It said they do not meet the "generally recognized as safe" standard, are unapproved food additives, and that their use may be harmful. It recommended that people avoid eating foods with them, and said it was evaluating their use in dietary supplements. [11]

Product labels are not reliable. In a 2025 study of eight gummies bought in Portland, Oregon, neither ibotenic acid nor muscimol was found in the two products claiming to contain A. muscaria extract. Those products instead contained psilocin and other tryptamines; one labeled psilocybin-free contained psilocybin, and another contained undisclosed THC. The authors called the labeling inaccurate. [12] Treat claims about content, strength or "legal" status on a package as a marketing claim. See unverified mushroom gummies.

Special groups

Proper evidence not found on risks specific to pregnancy or people taking medicines; we checked the poisoning and toxicology sources above. In the poison-center series, a few children had accidental ingestions and about a quarter of those were symptomatic. [8] See pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Research on benefit

Insufficient evidence. Proper evidence not found for human treatment benefit of muscimol or A. muscaria. We searched PubMed for poisoning, toxicology and chemistry and found case reports, poison-center series and reviews, not treatment trials.

Legal context

Laws change and this is not legal advice. In the text of the US federal Schedule I section (21 CFR 1308.11, read 2026-10-22) we found no entry for muscimol, ibotenic acid or Amanita. [13] The FDA position on food use is described above. [11] Other countries and US states: not verified. See psychedelic legal status by country.