Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 20,523,668	$ 19,708,371	$ 41,583,479	$ 39,689,556
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	350,123	377,060	649,563	660,463
Warrants	(3,761)	0	(3,761)	0
Employee severance, litigation and other	299	(9,027)	(1,705)	(12,586)
Other income	749	(131)	726	(132)
Interest expense, net	18,510	23,375	37,035	45,661
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest	330,864	353,816	611,802	614,934
Pharmaceutical Distribution [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	20,133,716	19,454,919	40,809,925	39,258,232
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	328,635	362,363	609,520	639,719
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	435,385	296,401	863,274	505,726
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	24,950	23,724	45,509	33,330
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (45,433)	$ (42,949)	$ (89,720)	$ (74,402)