Gregory House habitually 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 it to manage severe chronic pain caused by the infarction in his right thigh muscle.
His dependence on the drug is a central character and story element. It affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and treatment decisions, and several storylines focus on attempts to control or stop his use.
The show often treats Vicodin as part of House’s Sherlock Holmes-like image, but it also depicts serious consequences of misuse. Vicodin is not simply a fictional medicine: it was a real prescription analgesic, although its formulation and regulation have varied by country and over time.