Gregory House habitually misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic pain caused by the infarction and muscle damage in his right thigh. His use develops into dependence and becomes a continuing source of conflict with colleagues, administrators, and patients.
House’s Vicodin use is part of the character’s design: his physical pain and addiction are linked to his brilliance, irritability, and willingness to disregard rules. The show repeatedly depicts attempts to stop, reduce, or conceal his use, though the consequences vary across different storylines.
Vicodin is sometimes incorrectly replaced in recollections by other opioid pain medicines. OxyContin and Percocet are separate prescription drugs, while codeine is another opioid. The specific medication associated with House throughout the series is Vicodin, not a generic reference to painkillers.