House is known for misusing Vicodin to control his chronic pain in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever, while paracetamol is a non-opioid analgesic. House takes the drug because of the lasting pain caused by the muscle infarction in his right thigh.
His dependence is a continuing character and plot issue rather than a minor detail. It affects his judgment, his relationships, and his ability to work within hospital rules. The series repeatedly shows attempts by colleagues and institutions to make him stop or limit his use.
Vicodin is sometimes confused with other opioid medicines, such as oxycodone-based drugs. House's signature medication is specifically Vicodin. The show also uses the drug to explore the difference between legitimate pain treatment and harmful dependence, although its portrayal is dramatized for television.