(KRON) -- In the latest development tied to the disturbing and often harmful practice of "looksmaxxing" among young men, teenagers are now reportedly taking cancer drugs in an effort to grow taller. The trend is known as "heightmaxxing," and according to a report in Rolling Stone, it centers around a cancer drug known as erdafitinib. Erdafitinib is sold under the brand name of Balversa and was approved in the U.S. in 2019 as a prescription drug to treat locally advanced metastatic urothelial cancer in certain adults. The drug blocks proteins known as fibroblast factor receptors (FGFRs) that play a role in cell growth regulation. Video shows man tackled by ICE officers in San Mateo front yard Side effects of erdafitinib include bladder pain, blurred vision, confusion, chest tightness, labored breathing, lower back pain, seizures, scaling of the skin on the hands and feet, irregular heartbeat, and loosening of the fingernails, according to drugs.com. On social media, teens refer to the drug simply as "erda." Interest in the drug as a means to grow taller appears to stem from medical reports of unexpected growth in children who took erdafitinib during treatment for brain tumors. Medically, the drug has neither been approved for nor established as a height-enhancement treatment. That's reportedly not stopping teens from acquiring the drug from overseas in the hopes it will ignite a growth spurt. Teens are reportedly spending hundreds of dollars on the drug and sharing experiences online about supposed gains, as well as side effects like nosebleeds and joint pain. Zak, a 17-year-old TikToker who spoke to Rolling Stone, began taking the drug when he was 15. He told the publication he experienced joint pain that was so intense, he couldn't stretch his arms in the morning. Improper use of Erdafitinib can also cause irreversible damage to one's vision, medical experts have said. Despite the side effects and known risks, Zak told Rolling Stone he was pleased with the results he believed he experienced from taking erdafitinib and is even considering taking it again. In a statement to Rolling Stone, Johnson Johnson, which markets Balversa, said the drug "has not been approved to increase height, and its safety and effectiveness have not been established for that purpose or for use in any children or adolescents." Currently, there is no known medical means to grow taller as an adult. ...read more read less