Dr. Gregory House regularly takes Vicodin in House, M.D.
Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House uses the prescription painkiller to manage the severe chronic pain caused by a past infarction in his right thigh.
His Vicodin use is not merely a character detail. It becomes a continuing story about dependence, withdrawal, professional judgment, and the effects of addiction on relationships. House often hides or minimizes how much he takes, creating conflicts with colleagues and hospital administrators.
The show sometimes uses “Vicodin” as shorthand for House’s broader struggle with pain and self-control. It is not the cause of his leg injury; the injury happened earlier, and the medication is presented as an attempt to control its consequences. The series also depicts periods when House stops taking it or seeks other forms of treatment.