Gregory House becomes addicted to Vicodin in House M.D. Vicodin is a prescription combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen.
In the series, House takes Vicodin to manage chronic pain caused by muscle infarction in his right thigh. The injury leaves him with a permanent limp and is a major part of his backstory. His use of the drug develops into dependence and addiction, creating professional, legal, and personal problems.
The medication is not merely a character detail. House’s relationship with Vicodin drives several storylines, including attempts at rehabilitation and periods when colleagues question whether he can safely practice medicine.
Vicodin is sometimes confused with other prescription pain medicines because many dramas use similar drug names. In House M.D., however, Vicodin is the specific medication repeatedly associated with House. The show treats his addiction as a serious medical and behavioral problem rather than as a humorous character quirk.