Dr. Gregory House becomes addicted to Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House uses it to manage chronic pain caused by an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right thigh.
His dependence is one of the show’s most persistent character conflicts. It affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and ability to follow medical rules, while also becoming part of the mystery surrounding his physical condition.
The storyline is fictionalized, but it reflects a real medical concern: hydrocodone is an opioid with dependence and misuse risks. Vicodin was a familiar prescription medicine in the United States during the show’s original run, making the reference immediately recognizable to viewers.