Gregory House is addicted to Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is the brand name used in the series for a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. House takes it to manage chronic pain caused by a damaged quadriceps muscle in his right leg. His dependence on the drug becomes one of the show’s central character conflicts and affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and medical license.
The series repeatedly shows that House’s pain and addiction are connected but not identical problems. At different points, he attempts withdrawal, receives treatment, hides his use, or suffers consequences from dependence. These storylines are dramatized for television and should not be treated as a guide to pain treatment or addiction recovery.
Vicodin is not a fictional medication; it is a real prescription drug. The fictional element is House’s particular history and pattern of use. The show’s recurring phrase “everybody lies” also applies to his attempts to conceal how much he takes and how strongly he depends on it.