You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2480 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Choosing Between Generic And Brand Name Drugs (NAPSA)—Understanding more about generic and brand name drugs could be good for your wallet and your health. First, what’s the difference, anyway? Branded medicines result from years of research and major financial investments by pharmaceutical and biotech companies. These medicines are protected by patents. Generic drugs are copies of branded medicines, allowed after patents expire. Before a patent expires, no generic may be available. Generics can be a smart option for many people, and the drugs may save them and the health care system money. However, some brand and generic medicines may have subtle differences, such as differences in the formulation or the amount of drug that enters the body. Formulation Differences May Be Important According to a recent survey sponsored by PriCara, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., among the 47 percent of pharmacists who recommended a brand name medication over its generic equivalent, 54 percent cited a formulation issue that could be important to a specific patient. For instance: • Branded medicines may have different formulations—such as being long-acting—that generic versions do not offer. • For some critical dose drugs (such as some thyroid replacement drugs, anticoagulants, and anticonvulsants), a small change in the amount of drug that gets into the body—which can occur with generic drugs—can have significant health consequences. “It’s very important that consumers talk to their pharmacists about health issues—particularly their medications,” explains Dr. Harold Silverman, consultant to High Heels: Friend Or Foe? It’s important to understand your options with generic and brand name drugs. PriCara, pharmacist and author of “The Pill Book.” “Doing so can clear up a number of misconceptions that could affect your health.” Try these tips for talking to your pharmacist: 1. Ask for the name of the medicine you are prescribed and what it does. 2. Know how much medicine you should take, how often you should take it and for how long. 3. If a generic version of your medication is offered, ask if it might be different from the brand medicine and if it’s right for you. 4. Know what results you should expect. 5. Ask about side effects and, if the medicine does not work, how long you should wait until talking to your doctor about it. 6. Ask whether there is concern about taking the medicine with other medicines you are taking, even over-the-counter medicines or herbal and dietary supplements. Learning More You can find more information on medications at the Merck Manual online library at www.merck.com, in the Orange Book section of the FDA’s Web site at www.fda.gov/ cder/ob/, and in “The Pill Book.” (NAPSA)—Once might be a fluke, but when two Miss USAs in a row fall while walking in high heels, you know women everywhere have a problem. Both tumbles happened during the evening gown competition in 2007 and 2008. The much-noted spills point out the dangers associated with wearing high heels. “Wearing them affects the entire body, particularly the knee, hip and spine,” said Gerard W. Clum, D.C., president of Life Chiropractic College West in Chiropractors suggest wearing heels two inches high or less. Hayward, Calif. “The abnormal weight bearing and stressful posture induced by high heels can strain both the lower back and the neck—not to mention the feet, ankles and knees.” If high heels are a must, Dr. Clum advises not to wear them for more than two hours a day. So where does that leave fashion-conscious women? Well, no one’s saying you have to stick to flats the rest of the time. Instead, doctors at the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress suggest choosing heels of two inches in height or less as a compromise. For more information, please visit www.f4cp.org. Preparing That Bedroom For A Surprise Guest (NAPSA)—Before your young college graduate looks for room at the top, you may want to think about getting that extra bedroom ready for a surprise guest. According to a recent MonsterTRAK survey, more than 48 percent of 2008 college graduates are returning home to live for at least six months. As difficult economic times and high college loans force young adults back to the nest, many parents are looking for affordable ways to turn what was an extra bedroom into a young adult’s living space. With that in mind, the off-price retailer HomeGoods offers the following affordable suggestions: • Establish the room as neutral ground—literally. Personalizing a space is easier against a neutral backdrop, so consider some of the season’s more popular, soothing hues for walls and rugs such as mocha, steel blue, ivory or soft grey. • Focus on bedding to set the tone of the room. Hotel collections look and feel indulgent. Consider updated patterns such as textured geometrics, such as checks and diamonds, as well as natureinspired motifs and tone-on-tone designs for a look that’s crisp and clean. • Create a focal point to capture attention or to support a theme. Instead of a traditional headboard, consider grouping In difficult economic times, many parents are looking for affordable ways to turn what was an extra bedroom into a young adult’s living space. together photos, artwork or even a vertical row of branches, for a stunning wall display behind the bed. • Blend form and function to maximize space in a stylish way. A bamboo bench at the end of the bed adds visual balance and offers attractive seating. A leather tray table can do double duty as a bedside table and natural woven baskets add texture while keeping clothing, files or DVD’s in check. • Punctuate the room with personality. Decorative accessories such as accent pillows, carved animal sculptures, metallic or wooden photo frames and reactive glazed vases add global flair and give a room signature style. For more tips on updating your spare bedroom for your teenturned-adult, as well as store locations, visit www.homegoods.com.