How long is do hallucinogens remain stored in fat cells?

Answer 1

"Hallucinogens" is a very broad term, it includes many types of drugs, but is usually reserved for psychedelics such as tryptamines and phenethylamines, but is also commonly used to refer to dissociatives such as PCP and Ketamine, and empathogens like exstacy.

I will start with tryptamines and phenethylamines, such as magic mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline. Most drugs in this class are water soluble, and not oil soluble, therefore they are not stored in your body's fat cells, but rather, are excreeted rapidly through urination. If they where tested for, they would only be evident in urine for a day or so, and would probably be gone in hours. However, these drugs are rarely, if ever, tested for, and would require expensive specific testing to be done, which is usually only done in a forensics environment, such as an otopsy.

Dissociatives, like PCP, Ketamine, and DXM, are much more likely to be tested for, PCP is tested for in almost every common drug test available. PCP is lipid soluble, and is stored in your fat cells, a single use can be detected over a week latter by a standard test, heavy or frequent use can be detected for weeks, even months after a user has stopped taking PCP. Ketamine is not tested for, but can cause false positives for PCP, and may show up as PCP on standard tests, it is water soluble, and stays in the system for a few days, up to a week or two for heavy or frequent users. DXM is rarely tested for, but has become a more common test since it's abuse by children is increasing, schools, youth programs, etc... may test for DXM, but most adult testing will not. More worrying is the fact that DXM can cause false possitives for both PCP and Opiates.

Empathogens, like ecstacy, are becoming more common in testing, most youth tests will test for MDMA. Extended testing will almost certainly test for it, if it's a standard random test, you may be safe, but if it's a test requested because someone suspects you do drugs, it will be tested for. Ecstacy pills are rarely pure MDMA, most contain at least a little methamphetamine in them, and methamphetamine is always tested for. MDMA can also cause false possitives on methamphetamine tests on it's own, due to it's structural similarity to amphetamines.

I assumed you where asking for drug tests, if you where wondering about the old wives tale about psychedelics being stored in fat cells and causing flashbacks latter, then don't worry. Flashbacks are not caused by hidden pockets of drugs in your body, psychedelics leave the body very quickly, and are usually completely metabolized even before that happens. Flashbacks are a psychological phenomenon that is not fully understood, but is known to be 100% psychological in nature.

Answer 2

Hallucinogens can remain stored in fat cells for varying lengths of time depending on the specific drug and individual metabolism. Typically, hallucinogens like LSD can be detected in urine for up to 3 days, while drugs like psilocybin can be detected for 1-3 days. However, detection times can be longer with chronic or heavy use.