Gregory House commonly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a prescription painkiller combining hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic pain caused by the infarction and muscle damage in his right thigh. His continuing use develops into a major medical, ethical, and personal conflict.
The drug is not simply a character accessory. House's dependence affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and treatment choices across the series. Several storylines address attempts to stop taking it, withdrawal symptoms, and the consequences of obtaining or concealing prescriptions.
Vicodin is sometimes confused with other opioid medicines because the show depicts addiction broadly. However, Vicodin is the specific brand named repeatedly in House M.D. Its original formulation contained hydrocodone and acetaminophen; formulations and availability have changed in different markets over time.