What drug does Gregory House commonly misuse in House M.D.?

Gregory House commonly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.

Vicodin is a brand-name prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle. His dependence on the drug becomes one of the show's central continuing conflicts.

House's Vicodin use affects his health, judgment, relationships, employment, and ability to practice medicine. Several storylines involve attempts to stop him, periods of withdrawal, rehabilitation, and the consequences of obtaining or abusing prescriptions.

The drug is sometimes incorrectly identified as OxyContin or Percocet because all are prescription opioid pain medicines. House's recurring medication is specifically Vicodin. The series uses the dependency to show both the physical source of his pain and the emotional defenses surrounding it.