Psilocybin
Definition
4-Phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine; a prodrug found in Psilocybe genus mushrooms. Dephosphorylated in vivo to psilocin (the active form) by alkaline phosphatase. Active at 1-4 mg. Rescheduled for therapeutic use in Australia from July 2023.
- Chemical name
- 4-Phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
- Active dose
- Roughly 1 to 4 mg
- Activating enzyme
- Alkaline phosphatase (converts it to psilocin)
- Regulatory note
- Rescheduled for therapeutic use in Australia, July 2023
Common questions
How does psilocybin produce psychedelic effects if it is inactive itself?+
It is a prodrug. Alkaline phosphatase in the gut and body removes its phosphate group, converting it to psilocin, which crosses into the brain and acts on serotonin receptors to produce the psychoactive effect.
Does the Australian rescheduling mean psilocybin is legal there generally?+
No. It applies narrowly to prescribing by Therapeutic Goods Administration authorised psychiatrists for specific conditions from July 2023; psilocybin remains prohibited or tightly restricted in most other jurisdictions and for unauthorised use in Australia itself.
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