In House M.D., Gregory House becomes dependent on Vicodin.
Vicodin is a brand-name combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic pain caused by the infarction that damaged his right thigh muscle. His use escalates into dependence and addiction, creating repeated conflicts with colleagues and affecting his medical career.
House's Vicodin use is an ongoing storyline rather than a one-time plot point. He hides or minimizes the extent of his consumption, while friends and supervisors worry about his judgment, health, and ability to practice safely.
The show also depicts periods of withdrawal, rehabilitation, relapse, and attempts to manage pain without the drug. Vicodin is often associated with House because of the series, but the medication is not a fictional invention: it was a real prescription analgesic containing an opioid and acetaminophen.