Emerging Risks of Amanita Muscaria: Case Reports on Increasing Consumption and Health Risks.
Acta medica Lituanica January 1, 2025 Emilija Savickaitė, Gabija Laubner-Sakalauskienė 4 citations
The unregulated status and growing recreational use of Amanita muscaria, a hallucinogenic mushroom, pose public health concerns across the European Union. The mushroom contains muscimol, which induces euphoria and altered perception, and ibotenic acid, which converts to muscimol when dried or heated. In 2023, four cases of intentional poisoning were reported in Lithuania, all involving men who required hospitalization for symptoms including tremors, respiratory failure, dizziness, and paranoia; all were discharged in stable condition. The European Food Safety Authority has flagged A. muscaria as an emerging risk. A systematic search of PubMed identified 27 relevant publications. Misleading online information contributes to uninformed consumption, especially among younger individuals. Further research is needed to inform regulatory policies.