Dr. Gregory House's Complete Medication & Substance Protocol (House M.D.)

PRIMARY ADDICTION. Started ~40mg/day, escalated to 80mg/day by Season 1, eventually month's supply in one week by Season 7. Taken for leg infarction chronic pain + psychological dependence. Iconic consumption: reaching into jacket pocket, dry swallowing pills during conversations. Famous quote: 'I do not have a pain management problem, I have a pain problem.' Kept hidden stashes throughout apartment.

OPIOID ALTERNATIVE. Switched temporarily for complete pain relief. Results: Walked without cane, happier mood, BUT impaired diagnostic judgment and caused respiratory arrest requiring nipple-twist resuscitation by Foreman. Voluntarily discontinued - chose 'pain + genius' over 'happiness + mediocrity.' Episode: 'The Softer Side' S5E16

HOSPITAL USE. Post-shooting recovery (Season 2), severe pain crises, when Vicodin unavailable. IV administration during medical emergencies.

ALTERNATIVE OPIOID. Stolen from Wilson's dying cancer patient during Season 3 Tritter arc when cut off from Vicodin. Nearly overdosed due to stronger effects - unfamiliar with dosing.

EXPERIMENTAL CURE ATTEMPT. Ketamine-induced dissociative coma during post-gunshot surgery to 'reboot' nerve connections. Result: 8 weeks completely PAIN-FREE at start of Season 3. Ran 8 miles daily, no cane needed. Effects gradually wore off by Episode 3. Episodes: 'No Reason' S2E24

CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM. Self-identified 'big drinker.' Consumed regularly alone, at bars with Wilson, socially. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS when combined with Vicodin (both CNS depressants) - risk of respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, liver failure. His drinking at bar led to Season 4 bus crash killing Amber.

PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIMENT. Injected nitroglycerin to induce severe migraine, then took LSD to abort it via serotonin receptor action. Simultaneously took antidepressants to 'short-circuit' psychedelic effects. Successfully eliminated migraine. Continued working same day. Episode: 'Distractions' S2E12

PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION. (1) Season 2 - used with LSD to counteract psychedelic effects. (2) Season 3 Ep 22 - Wilson secretly dosed his coffee. (3) Season 6 - prescribed during Mayfield psychiatric hospital recovery. Brief compliance during genuine recovery attempt.

STIMULANT EXPERIMENT. Ground into Wilson's coffee as retaliation for Wilson secretly dosing him. Wilson's heart rate jumped to 185bpm, became hyperactive, inappropriately flirted during patient exam. Episode: 'Resignation' S3E22

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Stole experimental rat drug to regrow dead quadriceps muscle. Initial success: stronger leg, reduced pain. ALL LAB RATS DEVELOPED FATAL TUMORS. House developed 3 tumors in leg, attempted SELF-SURGERY IN BATHTUB with local anesthetic. Surgery failed when anesthetic wore off mid-procedure. Episodes: S7E21-22

MEMORY ENHANCEMENT. Deliberately overdosed to retrieve memories after bus crash head injury. Caused CARDIAC ARREST, required emergency resuscitation. Successfully remembered Amber was on bus. Episode: 'House's Head' S4E15

SELF-INDUCED HYPOGLYCEMIC SHOCK. Injected insulin to eliminate Amber hallucinations caused by Vicodin-induced psychosis. Called Wilson giving 2-minute warning before injecting. Caused seizures. Hallucinations returned anyway - led to psychiatric admission. Episode: 'Under My Skin' S5E22

VASODILATOR ABUSE. Self-injected to deliberately induce severe migraine as part of medical experiment. Part of 3-drug stack: nitroglycerin (induce migraine) + LSD (abort migraine) + antidepressants (control psychedelic effects). Episode: 'Distractions' S2E12

ELECTRICAL BRAIN PROBE. Electrode inserted directly into brain to complete memory retrieval. Caused seizure which, combined with fractured skull from bus crash, created brain bleed and coma. Successfully retrieved critical memory. Nearly fatal. Episode: 'Wilson's Heart' S4E16

NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE. Stuck knife into electrical outlet to stop his heart and 'experience death' for 97 seconds after patient claimed it was transformative. Died temporarily, was resuscitated. Denounced afterlife claims afterward. Episode: 'Needle in a Haystack' S4E3

OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEF. House's chronic pain too severe for OTC medications alone. Required narcotic-level analgesia. Not prominently featured - Vicodin was primary.

PRIMARY SOURCE. Wilson wrote majority of House's prescriptions willingly despite knowing about addiction. House forged prescriptions in Wilson's name using stolen prescription pads with varying handwriting. Co-dependent relationship where Wilson enabled addiction.

FORCED REDUCTION. Season 8 prison allowed only 4 pills daily (severe decrease from previous consumption). Set fire to clinic as distraction to steal additional supply. Flushed stolen pills to avoid contraband charges and save patient. Episode: 'Twenty Vicodin' S8E1

STOCKPILING BEHAVIOR. Kept bottles in jacket pocket for constant access. Hidden stash behind bathroom mirror discovered in Season 6 finale when contemplating relapse (Cuddy's love confession prevented it). Detective Tritter found 600+ pills during raid of apartment - trafficking-level quantity.

PRESCRIPTION DIVERSION. Wrote fake prescription for hypochondriac patient (gave them mints, kept real Vicodin). Stole from dying patients. Manipulated team members. Hospital orderly 'Ivan' secretly supplied during supposed rehab.

ONLY SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY. After Season 5 psychosis (hallucinating Amber due to Vicodin-induced psychosis), voluntarily admitted to Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital. Painful detox (restrained, withdrawing). ~8 weeks inpatient treatment with Dr. Nolan. Genuinely engaged in therapy, took prescribed SSRIs. Maintained sobriety entire Season 6 until finale. LONGEST ADDICTION-FREE PERIOD IN SERIES.

EMOTIONAL PAIN > PHYSICAL PAIN. When Cuddy had cancer scare, House took Vicodin 'to have nerve to be at her side.' Cuddy discovered relapse, broke up with him: 'You take it so you won't feel pain. Everything you've done is to avoid pain—drugs, sarcasm, keeping everybody at arm's length.' Post-breakup spiral: 'Vicodin, booze, and hookers' binge.

DANGEROUS CONSUMPTION. Wilson discovered House consuming entire month's prescription in one week after breakup. Forging prescriptions again. Attempted self-surgery on tumors in bathtub. Drove car through Cuddy's living room (Season 7 finale), leading to imprisonment.

SACRIFICE FOR FRIENDSHIP. When Wilson had terminal cancer with 5 months to live, morphine ran out during extreme chemotherapy. House shared his own Vicodin with Wilson - one of few times sacrificing his pain relief for someone else. Episode: 'The C-Word' S8E19