Consumer Briefs

High fuel prices are helping sales of products designed to boost gasoline mileage -- even though the government says they're not worth the money.

The products include fuel additives and devices that fit inside an engine's air intake valve. Their makers claim they boost mileage by helping gasoline burn more efficiently.

"The [Environmental Protection Agency] has tested hundreds of these products," said Laura DeMartino, a Federal Trade Commission attorney. "Even for the few that worked, the gas savings was so small it didn't justify the price."

But that's not discouraging people from searching for ways to eke extra mileage out of their vehicles.

"Our sales have probably close to doubled" over the last year, said Dan Baxley, founding partner of Automotive Research Laboratory, maker of the Vortec Cyclone, a $40 device designed to boost gas mileage by improving an engine's airflow. Some users have claimed a benefit of as much as 6 miles per gallon, though most see an improvement of 1 to 2 mpg, Baxley said. Automotive Research Laboratory has never received a complaint from the FTC, which declined to comment on specific products.

MEDICINE

Epilepsy drugs may get new label

The Food and Drug Administration wants to add its most serious warning label to epilepsy drugs, based on evidence that they increase the risk of suicide in patients.

FDA scientists have proposed adding a "black box" warning about suicide risks to all drugs used to treat seizures.

An FDA analysis of nearly 200 studies showed that patients taking anti-seizure drugs were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors than those taking placebos. Although the reported problems were extremely rare, the FDA found that drug-treated patients faced about twice the risk. On average, those patients experienced suicidal thoughts or behavior 0.43% of the time, compared with 0.22% of those taking placebos.

Anti-seizure drugs are used for a variety of illnesses in addition to epilepsy, including migraines, certain nerve-pain disorders and psychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorder.

RETAIL

Wal-Mart to sell Stewart craft line

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. will sell its arts and crafts line and its wedding items in Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. and Canada starting this month.