Accounting for Debt Financing Costs, Policy Accounting For Debt Financing Costs Policy [Text Block] Deferred Loan Costs Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accounts Receivable Gross Gross accounts receivable Accrual For Taxes Other Than Income Taxes Current Value-added tax liabilities Tabular disclosure of accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Accrued And Other Current Liabilities [Text Block] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Accrued Co Promotion Liability, Current Accrued Co Promotion Liability Current ACTONEL co-promotion liability Accrued Liabilities And Other Current Liabilities Disclosure. Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities Accrued Income Taxes Current Income taxes payable Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Total Accrued Marketing Costs Current Advertising and promotion Accrued Professional Fees Current Professional fees Accrued Research and Development Expense, Current Accrued Research And Development Expense Current R&D expense accruals Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a compensation owed for terminated employees. Accrued Severance Benefits Balance, December 31, 2011 Balance, December 31, 2010 Severance accruals Accrued Withholding Tax Accrued Withholding Tax Withholding taxes Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Additions of Property, Plant and Equipment Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Additions Of Property Plant And Equipment Additions Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Currency Translation of Property, Plant and Equipment Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Currency Translation Of Property Plant And Equipment Currency translation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Disposal Of Property Plant And Equipment Disposals / transfers Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment Ending Balance Beginning Balance The increase in accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (relating to property, plant and equipment) as a result of write-downs of property, plant and equipment. Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment Write Down Write-down of property plant and equipment, net Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets By Major Class [Axis] Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Asset Weighted Average Useful Life Weighted average amortization period of intangible assets Description of a business combination or material asset acquisition (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure (including data and tables) regarding business combinations and material assets acquired, including leverage buyout transactions (as applicable). Acquisitions [Text Block] Acquisitions ACTONEL and ATELVIA [Member] A C T O N E L And A T E L V I A [Member] ACTONEL and ATELVIA ACTONEL Intellectual Property [Member] A C T O N E L Intellectual Property [Member] ACTONEL Intellectual Property ACTONEL [Member] A C T O N E L [Member] ACTONEL ACTONEL Product Liability Litigation [Member] A C T O N E L Product Liability Litigation [Member] ACTONEL Product Liability Litigation ACTONEL Product Liability Litigation, Sanofi [Member] A C T O N E L Product Liability Litigation Sanofi [Member] ACTONEL Product Liability Litigation, Sanofi Additional Annual Payment, Percentage of Excess Cash Flow from Subsidiaries Subject To Term Loan Facility Additional Annual Payment Percentage Of Excess Cash Flow From Subsidiaries Subject To Term Loan Facility Mandatory prepayment of the loans, percentage of excess cash flow subject to term loan facility Additional paid in capital balance after dividend. Additional Paid In Capital After Dividend Additional paid in capital balance after dividend Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other Other Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Advertising Costs Policy [Text Block] Advertising and Promotion ("A&P") Advertising Expense Direct-to-consumer advertising expenses Air Transportation Equipment [Member] Aircraft Amendment Flag Amendment Flag AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Member] Amerisourcebergen Corporation [Member] AmerisourceBergen Corporation Amortization Of Financing Costs Amortization of debt finance costs Amortization of deferred loan costs Amortization Of Intangible Assets Amortization of intangible assets Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount Amounts of shares not included in calculation of diluted EPS Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share By Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, by Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities Name [Domain] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] ASACOL Intellectual Property [Member] A S A C O L Intellectual Property [Member] ASACOL Intellectual Property ASACOL [Member] A S A C O L [Member] ASACOL Assets Total assets Total assets Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets Current Total current assets Assets Current [Abstract] Current assets: Assets Noncurrent [Abstract] Other assets: ATELVIA Intellectual Property [Member] A T E L V I A Intellectual Property [Member] ATELVIA Intellectual Property ATELVIA [Member] A T E L V I A [Member] ATELVIA Automobiles [Member] Automobiles Bayer [Member] Bayer [Member] Bayer Building [Member] Buildings Business Acquisition Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment Future milestone payments Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid Cash consideration Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price Total purchase price Total Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price [Abstract] Purchase Price: Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition [Line Items] Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Line Items] Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Line Items] Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Line Items] Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table] Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Table] Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table] Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Text Block] Business Acquisition Pro Forma Amount Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Amortizable Intangible Assets Intangible assets related to marketed products Intangible assets-intellectual property Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Assets Acquired Liabilities Assumed Net Total identifiable net assets Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Assets Acquired Liabilities Assumed Net [Abstract] Identifiable net assets: Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Inventory Inventories Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Receivables Trade accounts receivable Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Liabilities Other Liabilities Other current and long term liabilities Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Income Taxes Asset Liability Net Deferred income taxes, net Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amount Goodwill Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets Not Amortizable Intangible assets related to IPR&D Projects IPR&D A portion of the receivable acquired while purchasing a business, which is due from the former owner of the acquired business. Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Net Receivables Due From Acquiree Expected cash due from P&G Net receivable Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Other Assets Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Assets Other current and long term assets Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipment Property, plant and equipment Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Receivables Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Receivables Gross contractual amounts receivable Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Income Loss Net income Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Revenue Total revenues Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Contingent Liability Liabilities assumed for PGP included certain contingent liabilities Business Combinations And Other Purchase Of Business Transactions Policy [Text Block] Acquisitions C A Canada Cambrex Corporation [Member] Cambrex Corporation [Member] Cambrex Corporation Cancellation of Services [Member] Cancellation Of Services [Member] Cancellation of Services Capital Additions [Member] Capital Expenditures Capital Expenditures, Amortization and Impairment of Intangible Assets and Depreciation Expense Capital Expenditures Amortization And Impairment Of Intangible Assets And Depreciation Expense Table [Text Block] Capital Expenditures, Amortization and Impairment of Intangible Assets and Depreciation Expense Cardinal Health, Inc [Member] Cardinal Health Inc [Member] Cardinal Health, Inc. Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash And Cash Equivalents Policy [Text Block] Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash Flow Noncash Investing And Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES Cash [Member] Cash on hand Cash Paid For Extinguishment Of Debt Cash Paid For Extinguishment Of Debt Cash on hand used to repay aggregate term loans outstanding Claims Tendered To Third Party Claims Tendered To Third Party Number of claims tendered to Bristol Myers Class Of Stock [Line Items] Class of Stock [Line Items] Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] Sanofi Collaboration Agreement Collaborative Arrangements And Noncollaborative Arrangement Transactions [Axis] Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Axis] Collaborative Arrangements And Noncollaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] Collaborative Arrangements And Noncollaborative Arrangement Transactions [Member] Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Domain] Collaborative Arrangements Copromotion Agreement Agreement [Member] Collaborative Arrangements, Co-promotion Agreement, Agreement Commitments And Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (See Notes 15 and 16) Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Table] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Table] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Table] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid Special dividend paid to shareholders, per share Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared Special dividend paid to shareholders, per share Dividends per share Dividends per share: Common Stock [Member] Ordinary shares Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Ordinary shares, par value Common Stock Shares Authorized Ordinary shares, shares authorized Common Stock Shares Issued Ordinary shares, shares issued Common Stock Shares Outstanding Ending Balance (in shares) Beginning Balance (in shares) Ordinary shares, shares outstanding Common Stock Value Ordinary shares, par value $0.01 per share; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 250,247,802 and 252,527,004 shares issued and outstanding Compensation And Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] Retirement Plans Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Comprehensive Income Computer Equipment and Capitalized Software [Member] Computer Equipment And Capitalized Software [Member] Computer equipment and software Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk By Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk by Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk By Type [Axis] Concentration Risk by Type [Axis] Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] Concentration of Credit Risk, Reliance on Significant Suppliers and Reliance on Major Products Concentration Risk [Line Items] Concentration Risk [Line Items] Concentration Risk Percentage Concentration risk, percentage Concentration Risk [Table] Concentration Risk [Table] Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Consolidation Eliminations [Member] Eliminations Consolidation Policy [Text Block] Principles of Consolidation Construction In Progress [Member] Construction in-progress Contract manufacturing product sales [Member] Contract Manufacturing Product Sales [Member] Contract manufacturing product sales Contract Termination [Member] Contract Termination Contractual Obligations, Current Contractual Obligations Current Contractual obligations Expense of contractual profit sharing with the Company's collaboration partner Copromotion Expenses Co-promotion expense Cost Of Goods And Services Sold Cost of sales (excludes amortization of intangible assets) Cost of sales (excluding amortization) The cost of goods sold associated with the inventory from the LEO Transaction. Cost Of Goods And Services Sold Other Cost of sales - LEO Costs And Expenses [Abstract] COSTS, EXPENSES AND OTHER Costs Associated With Exit Or Disposal Activities Or Restructurings Policy [Text Block] Restructuring Costs Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit U.S. federal tax Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit Foreign Current Income Tax Expense Benefit Total Current Income Tax Expense Benefit [Abstract] Provision for current taxes: Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit U.S. state and local taxes Customer Concentration Risk [Member] Customer Concentration Risk Customers Accounting For Ten Percent Or More Of Net Revenue Customers Accounting For Ten Percent Or More Of Net Revenue Customers who each accounted for greater than 10% of the Company's total revenues Damages Sought Loss Contingency Damages Sought Loss Contingency Damages sought D E Germany Debt Disclosure [Line Items] Debt Disclosure [Line Items] Debt Disclosure [Line Items] Debt Disclosure [Table] Debt Disclosure [Table] Debt Disclosure [Table] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Indebtedness Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate Additional interest to LIBOR floor Debt Instrument Carrying Amount Principal outstanding Total long-term debt Total long-term debt Debt Instrument Covenant Description Restrictive covenants description Debt Instrument Face Amount Aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued Debt Instrument Interest Rate At Period End Interest rate Debt Instrument Maturity Date Maturity date Debt Instrument Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument Payment Terms Interest on borrowings Debt Instrument Redemption Price per Principal Amount Debt Instrument Redemption Price Per Principal Amount Redemption price for the redeemed Notes per $ 1000 principal amount Debt Instrument Unamortized Premium Aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued, premium 7.75% Notes unamortized premium 7.75% Notes, unamortized premium Debt Redemption Price Percent Of Principal Amount Debt Redemption Price Percent Of Principal Amount Percentage of tender payment to principal amount Debt Tender Offer Debt Tender Offer Debt tender offer Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit U.S. federal tax Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net Deferred loan costs Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Foreign Deferred Gain On Sale Of Property Deferred gains from sale of inventories to LEO Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits Total Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit [Abstract] (Benefit) / provision for deferred taxes: Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit U.S. state and local taxes Deferred Tax Assets Gross Gross deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets Gross [Abstract] Deferred tax assets: Deferred Tax Assets Inventory Inventory Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net Net deferred tax assets / (liabilities) Deferred Tax Assets Net Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent Non-current deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Deferred tax asset related to net operating loss carryforwards Loss carryforwards Deferred Tax Assets Other Other Deferred Tax Assets, Property Plant And Equipment Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment Property, plant and equipment allowances Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost Stock-based compensation Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Contingencies Uncertain tax positions Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance Valuation allowance Valuation allowance The gross amount of income attributable to a valuation allowance Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance Gross Gross aggregate valuation allowances Deferred Tax Liabilities Gross deferred tax liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities [Abstract] Deferred tax liabilities: Deferred Tax Liabilities Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities Financing Arrangements Deferred financing fee Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets Intangible assets Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent Non-current deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities Other Other Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment Property, plant and equipment allowances Deferred Tax Liabilities, State Income Taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities State Income Taxes State income taxes Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized Cumulative Amount Of Temporary Difference Cumulative amount of temporary difference relating to investments in subsidiaries Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized, Incremental Amount of Temporary Difference Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized Incremental Amount Of Temporary Difference Unrecognized deferred tax liability related to temporary difference Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Benefit Obligation Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Before Tax Ending balance Beginning balance