Gregory House’s prescribed pain medication in House M.D. was Vicodin.
Vicodin is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also called acetaminophen. In the series, House uses it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle. His dependence on the drug becomes one of the show’s major continuing storylines and affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and medical license.
House’s medication use is not simply a character detail. It creates recurring conflicts over whether his diagnostic brilliance excuses unsafe behavior and whether his pain is being treated appropriately. Several plots involve withdrawal, rehabilitation, forged prescriptions, and the consequences of taking more medication than prescribed.
The drug is often confused with generic painkillers or with medications House receives during particular story arcs. Vicodin specifically identifies the hydrocodone-and-paracetamol product associated with his usual treatment. The show’s portrayal is dramatic and should not be used as medical guidance about pain management or opioid dependence.