Dr. Gregory House frequently takes Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is the brand name for a 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 dependence on the medication is a major character and plot element. It affects his relationships, professional judgment, and attempts at treatment. Several storylines focus on withdrawal, rehabilitation, relapse, and the consequences of colleagues enabling or confronting his addiction.
The show often uses “Vicodin” as shorthand for House’s pain and self-destructive coping strategy. It is not the same drug as oxycodone-based OxyContin or Percocet, which are separate prescription medications. The fictional character’s medication use is dramatized and should not be treated as medical guidance.