Health

Teenagers Turn to Cancer Drug Erdafitinib in Height‑Maxxing Trend

By Anjali Thakur

Teenagers are reportedly taking erdafitinib, a prescription cancer drug, in an effort to gain a few extra inches, driven by a social media trend called "heightmaxxing." The trend is part of the broader "maxxing" culture, where young people share methods they believe can help them achieve an ideal version of themselves. One offshoot, "looksmaxxing," focuses on improving facial features, physique and overall appearance.

According to a Rolling Stone report, some teenagers have begun using erdafitinib, which is marketed under the brand name Balversa, in the hope that it will help them grow taller. Online, the drug is referred to as "erda," and users post updates about their height, duration of use and reported side effects. Interest in the drug appears to have been sparked by medical reports of unexpected growth in children who received erdafitinib during cancer treatment, although the drug has not been approved or established as a height‑enhancement treatment.

One teenager featured in the report is Zak, a 17‑year‑old TikTok user from New York. He said he had been taking erdafitinib intermittently since he was 15. He reportedly purchased the medicine from overseas online sellers, initially paying $300 (approximately ₹28,206) for a month’s supply. Aware of the risks of taking a cancer drug without medical supervision, Zak said he had started setting aside money for potential hospital bills. He attributed his height‑related insecurities partly to social media videos discussing how tall men should be to find partners, as well as being teased at school for being shorter than girls in his class. Zak reported side effects including nosebleeds, extremely dry skin and severe joint pain. Although he has since stopped taking the medicine, he said he was satisfied with the growth he believed he had experienced and was considering taking it again. According to his own measurements, he grew several inches between 15 and 17.

Erdafitinib blocks proteins known as fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), which play a role in regulating cell growth. The drug was initially approved in the United States in 2019 for certain adults with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer when their tumours have specific genetic alterations.

A study titled "Accelerated Linear Growth during Erdafitinib Treatment: An FGFR‑Related, but Growth Factor and Sex Steroid‑Independent Mechanism?" was published online on July 31, 2024. It examined two children treated at the Medical University of Vienna who received the drug through a compassionate‑use programme after standard treatment options and clinical trial possibilities had been exhausted. The researchers reported accelerated linear growth and changes in the children’s growth plates, including widening and increased mineralisation. The findings do not establish that erdafitinib is safe or effective for healthy teenagers seeking to increase their height.

Adalbert Raimann, a paediatric endocrinologist at the Medical University of Vienna, explained that the medicine blocks proteins involved in regulating bone growth and warned that the long‑term consequences of interfering with these processes in otherwise healthy children remain unknown. Andrew Dauber, a paediatric endocrinologist at Children’s National Hospital, also said he would not prescribe erdafitinib to help children grow taller, describing the practice as too dangerous.