Gregory House’s longtime pain medication in House M.D. is Vicodin.
House takes Vicodin to manage chronic pain caused by muscle damage in his right thigh. The injury and its treatment are central parts of his character, affecting his walking, relationships, judgment, and dependence on medication.
Vicodin is a brand name for a prescription combination containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The show repeatedly depicts House’s use of it as both a medical detail and a source of conflict, especially when colleagues question whether the medication is impairing him or worsening his dependence.
The medication is sometimes incorrectly replaced in memory by other opioid painkillers seen in medical dramas. House’s signature pill bottle and cane are specifically associated with Vicodin, making it one of the character’s most recognizable traits.