Dr. House commonly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a prescription combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, called acetaminophen in the United States. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle, an injury that left him with a limp.
His dependence on the drug is a central character and plot element. Colleagues, friends, and administrators repeatedly confront him about tolerance, withdrawal, forged prescriptions, and the effect of addiction on his judgment. The storyline also distinguishes his brilliant medical reasoning from the serious consequences of his substance use.
A common mix-up is treating Vicodin as House’s diagnosis or specialty; it is a medication. The program uses the brand name familiar to American viewers, while the drug’s active opioid ingredient is hydrocodone.