House is addicted to Vicodin in the television series House M.D. Vicodin is a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen, and House uses it to manage chronic pain in his leg.
The character’s limp results from an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right thigh. The injury leaves him with lasting pain and contributes to his reliance on a cane. Rather than treating Vicodin as a minor character detail, the series makes House’s dependence a continuing medical, ethical, and personal conflict.
House’s addiction affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and treatment decisions. Several storylines address attempts to stop taking the drug, withdrawal, rehabilitation, and the consequences of obtaining prescriptions improperly. The show also depicts how his colleagues respond when his behavior threatens patients or the hospital.
Vicodin is a brand name, not a general synonym for every opioid painkiller. It combines hydrocodone with acetaminophen, whereas OxyContin contains oxycodone. The fictional portrayal dramatizes addiction for television and should not be treated as medical guidance.