Gregory House regularly uses Vicodin for his chronic leg pain in House M.D. Vicodin is a prescription combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, and the medication becomes a central part of House’s character and storylines.
House’s leg pain results from an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right thigh. The injury occurred before the series begins and leaves him with a limp. He uses a cane and takes pain medication while continuing to work as a diagnostician.
The show repeatedly addresses House’s dependence on Vicodin, including attempts to stop using it, withdrawal symptoms, and conflicts with colleagues and hospital leadership. The medication is not simply a background prop; it affects House’s judgment, relationships, and professional status.
Vicodin is a brand name associated with hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is not the same drug as OxyContin, which contains extended-release oxycodone, or Percocet, which contains oxycodone and acetaminophen. Those distinctions matter when identifying the medication specifically named in the series.