Gregory House regularly takes Vicodin in House M.D. Vicodin is a prescription combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, and the show presents House as dependent on it for chronic leg pain.
House’s pain began after an infarction damaged muscle in his right thigh. He undergoes treatment that saves his leg but leaves lasting disability and pain, leading to his distinctive limp and cane. Vicodin becomes both a pain-management tool and a major source of conflict in the series because House’s use escalates into addiction.
The show’s depiction is fictionalized for drama, and real prescribing practices vary by patient and jurisdiction. Vicodin is also a brand name rather than the name of a single chemical ingredient. The medication’s opioid component is hydrocodone, while acetaminophen is included in the combination formulation.