Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 11/10/2008

Question
Hi, I am concerned about my physical growth pattern. I am going to try to explain this problem as efficient as I can. Ive been  looking at myself in the mirror every day waiting for significant changes to occur for the past i don't know, 3-5 years. However, I have noticed about 2 to 4 years ago that I have generated hair around the pubic and underarm areas and even legs but the changes have since stopped or slowed down a lot. I am now 19 years old and I still have the characteristics of a 15-16 year old according to many people. I have never grown any facial hair yet (except a small mustache), I still wear a size 28 waist for pants, and I still wear small shirts and I am small compared to most people my age. Are there any possible explanations as to why I am not near the end of my growth pattern like everybody else is at this age range? I have been on medications for ADD ever since I was a kid and I think I started with metadate, then I moved onto focalin, and now I am on vyvanse. I have tried to stop taking medication a couple of times but I could not seem to focus and function properly without it. Do you think these might have contributed to my growth problem? I would greatly appreciate a response as any kind of information as to why this is occurring would help me a great deal. Thank you.

Answer
Although all the stimulants used for ADD have an initial effect on growth it is short lived. There are no long term side effects to this type of `medication. Thus if there is any slowing up of growth it is either genetic or a nutritional problem. You should visit a growth clinic to be evaluated the possible use of the growth hormone. However if it is an inherited genetic pattern just accept it that some people are big and some normal people are not. Some mature early and some late. AS you have not stated your height I cannot comment further.