Gregory House’s longtime prescription painkiller in House, M.D. is Vicodin. Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, and the show repeatedly depicts House taking it to manage chronic leg pain.
House’s pain began after an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. The resulting disability and pain are central parts of his character, influencing his gait, his use of a cane, and his dependence on medication. His Vicodin use also becomes a major professional and personal problem throughout the series.
Viewers sometimes use “painkillers” as a general answer, but the specific drug named in the show is Vicodin. The fictional storyline should not be treated as a guide to medication use: hydrocodone is an opioid, and acetaminophen can cause serious harm in excessive amounts. House’s dependence is portrayed as an addiction and is repeatedly addressed by colleagues and medical authorities.