12 things you should know about pain relievers

A dozen take-home messages about the pills that take the hurt away.

Remember when it was so simple? Take two aspirin, call the doctor in the morning. Now we've got a staggering number of pain relievers to choose from. Picking the right one is enough to give you a headache! And whatever you might think about the Vioxx debacle, it certainly made us aware that these medications — even the ones sold over the counter — are serious drugs, capable of doing great harm as well as rescuing us from some awful pain. So here are a few pointers to help you navigate the pain reliever aisle.