So many options: Acetaminophen and other pain relievers

If you have a bottle of this stuff in your medicine cabinet, it's likely to be hidden behind the aspirin and ibuprofen. However, there are instances when it may be the best choice .

Acetaminophen first became widely available in 1955 with the introduction of Tylenol Elixir, which was sold by prescription and marketed as a children's medication that was gentler on the stomach than aspirin.

Within a few years, Tylenol and other acetaminophen-based drugs were on sale over the counter and quickly became popular general-purpose pain relievers.

While you may want to keep acetaminophen on hand, other pain killers have proven to have the edge when it comes to relieving most varieties of pain.

• Studies show that acetaminophen relieves pain about as well as aspirin.
• Most research shows that NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen, are more powerful than both.
• For instance, one study of 455 patients with tension headaches found that a single dose of ibuprofen (400 milligrams) produced greater pain relief, faster, than a dose of acetaminophen (1,000 milligrams).
• Also, a recent review of 15 studies involving nearly 6,000 people with osteoarthritis in the knee or hip found that people who took NSAIDs like ibuprofen (not aspirin) had less pain than others who took acetaminophen.
• Asked to rate their pain on a scale of zero to 100, patients using NSAIDs ranked their discomfort six points lower than patients taking acetaminophen. NSAID users had less stiffness and greater mobility, too.

It's safest for people with stomach problems and for treating fever in kids and teens.

Acetaminophen may be best for people who can't tolerate NSAIDs (which also include naproxen sodium, ketoprofen and others), since these drugs can cause a range of gastrointestinal problems, from heartburn to stomach bleeding and even ulcers in some people.

Doctors may also advise patients who have poor kidney function to use acetaminophen instead of NSAIDs.

It's also the best choice for lowering fevers in children and teenagers, since aspirin may trigger a rare but potentially fatal disorder called Reyes' syndrome.

It's worth noting that some doctors think it's a mistake to treat fever in the first place. After all, the toasty internal temperature produced when you have a fever helps your body kill off germs that cause infections. However, treating fever usually makes patients feel better.

Note: If you take acetaminophen or give a dose to a child to treat fever associated with a virus, keep in mind that some cold remedies contain the drug, too, and be careful not to overdose.

It is always best to consult your doctor when making choices concerning your health and medication.