Dr. House regularly misuses Vicodin in House M.D.
Vicodin is a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. House takes it to manage chronic leg pain caused by an infarction in his quadriceps muscle, an injury that left him with a permanent limp.
His dependence on the drug is one of the series’ central character conflicts. It affects his judgment, his relationships, and his ability to practice medicine, while colleagues repeatedly debate whether his brilliance justifies tolerating his behavior. Several storylines focus on attempts to restrict or treat his addiction.
Vicodin is a brand name rather than a generic drug name. It is often confused with other opioid painkillers seen in medical dramas, but Vicodin is the medication specifically associated with House’s recurring dependence in the series.