Gregory House regularly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand-name prescription medicine combining hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage severe chronic pain caused by an infarction in his right thigh muscle. His dependence on the drug is a continuing part of the character’s personal and professional conflicts.
House’s use of Vicodin affects his judgment, relationships, and employment. Colleagues and administrators repeatedly question whether he can safely practice medicine, while House often minimizes the seriousness of his dependence. The show uses the issue to explore the contrast between his diagnostic ability and his self-destructive behavior.
Vicodin is not House’s diagnosis or specialty; it is a pain medication. The character’s cane and limp are connected to the underlying leg injury, while the drug is his chosen method of controlling the resulting pain. The storyline should also not be confused with Wilson’s or another doctor’s medication use.