Mixing Amanita Muscaria With Alcohol, Cannabis or Kratom: Why It's Riskier

Combining Amanita muscaria with alcohol, cannabis, kratom, sleeping pills, anxiety medicines or other drugs makes its effects less predictable and raises the risk of serious harm. The CDC warns that mixed drugs can act more strongly and more unpredictably than one drug alone, and that combining depressants increases the risk of overdose and death. No study has tested any of these combinations with Amanita, so there is no safe mix to recommend.

This page used to describe Amanita's "calming potential and lifestyle integration" and compared it to other relaxants. We have replaced it, because people who treat it as one relaxant among others are the ones most likely to combine it.

Why is mixing the bigger risk?

The CDC calls taking more than one drug together, or within a short time, polysubstance use. It warns that the effects "may be stronger and more unpredictable" than those of one drug alone, and that nearly half of US overdose deaths in 2022 involved several drugs (CDC, Polysubstance Use Facts).

Amanita muscaria is already hard to predict on its own. Its muscimol and ibotenic acid content varies from mushroom to mushroom, and poisoning reports describe confusion, drowsiness, agitation and, in severe cases, seizures and coma (Toxins, 2025). Adding a second substance adds a second unknown.

What about alcohol, sleeping pills and anxiety medicines?

These are the most dangerous combinations because they all slow down the brain. Muscimol acts on GABA-A receptors (Michelot & Melendez-Howell, 2003), the same system targeted by alcohol, benzodiazepines and most sleeping pills.

The US alcohol research institute NIAAA warns that alcohol combined with sedatives, sleep medicines or anxiety medicines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed breathing, impaired movement and memory problems (NIAAA, Harmful Interactions). The CDC names "downers with downers" as the combination that most raises the risk of overdose and death.

Our article on why fly agaric is not a different kind of alcohol alternative explains the shared receptor system in more detail.

What about cannabis and kratom?

Cannabis. NIDA notes that cannabis can impair thinking, memory and body movement, and that large amounts or high-THC products can cause anxiety, panic, hallucinations or, in some people, a temporary psychotic episode (NIDA, Cannabis). Amanita poisoning can also cause confusion and hallucinations. Combining two substances that both disturb perception makes it harder for anyone, including the person using them, to tell when something is going wrong.

Kratom. The FDA warns consumers not to use kratom because of the risk of liver toxicity, seizures and substance use disorder. It notes that the rare deaths linked to kratom usually involved other drugs as well (FDA and Kratom). Seizures are also a documented risk of severe Amanita poisoning.

Unlabelled products. The 2024 Diamond Shruumz edibles contained muscimol together with kava compounds, a prescription drug and psilocin, and were linked to 73 hospitalisations (FDA, 2024). A mixture can be hidden inside a single product.

What should you do instead?

• Do not combine Amanita muscaria with anything else, including alcohol and prescribed medicines.
• Do not stop a prescribed sleep or anxiety medicine to "make room" for something else. Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can be dangerous.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including supplements and cannabis. Interaction checks only work with the full list.
• If someone has mixed substances and is very drowsy, confused or breathing oddly, call emergency services and say exactly what was taken.

The US FDA concluded in 2024 that Amanita muscaria and its constituents are not generally recognised as safe for use in food (FDA Scientific Memorandum, 2024). The products on this site are sold as dried specimens for display and study, not for consumption. Our overview of Amanita side effects covers the single-substance risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine Amanita muscaria with alcohol?

No. Both act on the brain's GABA system, and combining depressants raises the risk of dangerous sedation, slowed breathing and overdose.

Is it safe to use Amanita with cannabis?

No combination has been studied. Both can affect perception and thinking, which makes a bad reaction harder to recognise.

What about kratom?

The FDA warns against kratom because of liver toxicity, seizures and addiction, and notes that deaths usually involved other drugs as well.

Can I take it with my prescribed sleep or anxiety medicine?

No. Those medicines work on the same system. Speak to your prescriber, and never stop a benzodiazepine suddenly.

What should I do if someone has mixed substances and seems unwell?

Call emergency services if they are very drowsy, confused or breathing abnormally. Tell responders exactly what was taken and when.

This article is educational content, not medical advice. Amanita muscaria is toxic and is not sold for ingestion. If you are worried about someone, contact the services listed above.