Dr. House frequently misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle. His reliance on the drug becomes a central medical and personal problem.
House’s Vicodin use affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and treatment of patients. The show repeatedly portrays attempts to stop, control, or conceal his use, although its fictional depiction should not be treated as a guide to pain-medication management.
Vicodin is often confused with other opioid painkillers because many prescription medicines share similar effects and risks. The brand’s formulation and legal status have also varied by country and over time, but the series consistently identifies House’s drug as Vicodin.