What is the name of House M.D.’s signature pain medication?

Vicodin is House M.D.’s signature pain medication. Dr. Gregory House takes the prescription analgesic to manage chronic pain caused by an infarction in the muscles of his right thigh.

Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the United States, hydrocodone is an opioid, while paracetamol is a non-opioid pain reliever.

House’s reliance on Vicodin becomes one of the show’s major ongoing conflicts. Colleagues question whether the medication affects his judgment, and several storylines depict attempts to reduce, conceal, or stop his use.

The drug is sometimes described as House’s addiction in isolation, but the series connects it to both legitimate chronic pain and dependence. That distinction drives many of his professional and personal disputes and is a recurring part of his character arc.