Dr. Gregory House regularly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a brand-name prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the series, House takes it to manage chronic pain caused by an infarction in his right quadriceps muscle, an injury that left him with a limp and long-term disability.
House’s dependence on Vicodin is a recurring part of the story rather than a minor character detail. It affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and treatment, and several plotlines focus on attempts to control or stop his use of the medication.
The show sometimes uses “Vicodin” as shorthand for House’s addiction, but the drug is not fictional: it was a real prescription product. The fictional element is House’s specific medical history and the way his use is woven into the drama.