Will Mushroom Tablets Make Me Fail a Drug Test?

Random drug tests are a common practice in most workplaces. This is not a concern if you only use over-the-counter medications for daily support, but if you use natural botanicals like functional mushrooms, kratom, and kava, it’s a cause for alarm. This begs the question, will mushroom tablets make me fail a drug test?

Firstly, functional mushroom supplements have gained popularity in the last few years, and many professionals use them for brain health, energy, and immune support. 

Here is a detailed article that addresses common concerns about mushroom tablet drug tests. 

What Do Drug Tests Actually Screen For

Before discussing whether mushroom tablets will make you fail a drug test, let’s look at the specific compounds that conventional workplace drug tests are designed to detect. 

Most companies and organizations follow guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The procedure is commonly referred to as a 5-panel drug test. 

Concisely, drug tests are incapable of testing every known compound that comes from drugs. They are designed to detect specific chemical compounds, called metabolites, produced when the body breaks down drugs. 

Luckily, functional mushroom supplements don’t form metabolites when processed in the body. This explains why searches related to functional mushroom drug test questions lead to the same conclusion. 

A 5-panel drug test is common, but some employers are thorough and administer a 10-panel drug test to detect more drug metabolites. Such screening tests for additional substances such as methadone, barbiturates, MDMA, and benzodiazepines. Good news for functional mushroom users, even expanded panels don’t include the main active compounds in mushroom tablets. 

Why Mushroom Supplements Cause Confusion

Let’s be honest, the majority of us wouldn’t touch mushroom tablets even with a 10-foot pole when we started using botanicals. There was a lot of misleading information about them, and most guides categorize them alongside opioids. 

Our analysis of search trends shows an increasing number of people asking, Do mushrooms show up on drug tests? Differentiating between myths and facts about magic mushrooms will help you decide whether to use them or look for alternatives like kratom and kava. 

For starters, there are two different types of magic mushrooms in the market, namely;

• Psychedelic mushrooms that contain psilocybin
• Functional mushrooms that are used as supplements

Though both are mushrooms, their chemical composition and effects vary. For purposes of this article, we will focus only on functional mushroom tablets. 

What Are Functional Mushroom Tablets?

Functional mushrooms are sold as supplements and contain extracts from mushroom species that are widely studied for their beneficial biological compounds. Let’s dive in and look at the most common types of functional mushrooms in the market. 

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s mane is arguably one of the most popular functional mushrooms in the market. It contains two main active compounds, erinacines and hericenones, which boost the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is responsible for maintaining the normal function of nerve cells. 

According to a study by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the two active compounds influence nerve growth pathways and brain cell signalling. But they don’t interact with opioid receptors, and it’s rare for employers to administer a lion’s mane drug test. 

Cordyceps

The main active compound in Cordyceps mushroom supplements is cordycepin. Its chemical structure is similar to that of adenosine, and research shows it can potentially boost metabolic activity by influencing cellular energy systems. This explains why athletes use cordyceps supplements to boost performance. 

Because cordyceps is often marketed as an energy booster, people sometimes assume it works like a stimulant. This assumption leads to Google searches such as cordyceps drug test, especially among athletes before a major competition. 

In reality, Cordyceps mushroom supplements do not act like amphetamines or other stimulants tested in drug screens, but some sports organizations don’t allow athletes to use them. Do your due diligence before using it if you are an athlete to avoid disqualification.  

Reishi

Reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucan polysaccharides and triterpenoids that support immune signaling. Research shows they also influence antioxidant activity by boosting immune cell communication. Like other functional mushrooms discussed above, they don’t interact with neurological pathways that opioids and other botanicals target. 

In our view, questions about a reishi drug test often come from a misunderstanding of how these specific mushroom supplements work. Other functional mushrooms that are safe and you can be sure won’t show up on drug tests are Chaga and Turkey tail. 

Do Psychedelic Mushrooms Show Up on Drug Tests?

Yes, but it depends on the duration and dose. Psychedelic mushrooms are different from functional mushrooms. Their main active compound, psilocybin, is metabolized to psilocin, which interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered perception and hallucinations. 

Compared to strong opioids like heroin and cocaine, psilocybin is quickly broken down and excreted. Here is an overview of the psychedelic mushroom detection window to help you prepare for a drug test. 

But based on our research, most workplace drug testing programs do not screen for psilocybin because detection requires specialized laboratory equipment.

So, Will Mushroom Tablets Make Me Fail A Drug Test?

No, 5-panel and 10-panel drug tests focus on specific metabolites that form after substances like opiates, cocaine, THC, and amphetamines are broken down in the body. Functional mushroom tablets like lion’s mane, cordyceps, and reishi contain natural compounds that are unrelated to these drugs. Supplements made with verified mushroom extracts and proprietary blends, such as the Mindless mushroom tablets from Real Botanicals, do not show up on drug tests. 

Get in touch with Kratom Experts for more details about functional mushrooms and other botanicals.