Dr. Gregory House depends on Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a prescription combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House uses it to manage chronic pain caused by an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. His reliance on the drug becomes one of the character's defining personal and professional conflicts.
House's pain, addiction, and attempts to control his use of Vicodin recur throughout the show. Colleagues, administrators, and friends repeatedly question whether the medication affects his judgment, relationships, and ability to practice medicine. The storyline also shows periods in which he stops taking it or seeks other ways to manage his pain.
Vicodin is sometimes confused with the separate medications House receives or misuses in particular episodes. The drug most strongly associated with his long-term dependence is Vicodin.