House is dependent on the prescription painkiller Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the series, House uses it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle, but his use develops into a serious dependency and repeatedly affects his judgment, relationships, and employment.
House’s medication is a major part of the character’s design rather than a minor medical detail. His colleagues and administrators debate whether the drug helps him function or worsens his behavior, and several storylines show attempts to stop, control, or replace his use of it.
Vicodin should not be confused with oxycodone-based drugs such as OxyContin or Percocet. Those are different prescription medications. The series uses the brand name Vicodin consistently in its characterization of House, although the exact real-world availability and formulations of hydrocodone products have changed over time.