Dr. Gregory House commonly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand name for a prescription combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House uses it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle.
His dependence on the drug is one of the show’s central character conflicts. It affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and attempts at treatment. The storyline also illustrates the tension between House’s medical knowledge and his inability to control his own substance use.
The series depicts repeated efforts to restrict or stop House’s Vicodin use, including rehabilitation and periods of withdrawal. The drug is not simply a personality detail: it is tied to the physical injury that shapes House’s limp and to his broader distrust of vulnerability. The character’s use is fictional and should not be treated as medical advice.