Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Compensatory Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	$ 1.5
Multi District Litigation MDL [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	260
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	290
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	360
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	800
Loss Contingency, Number of Claimants	400
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Prozac [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	10
Loss Contingency, Number of Claimants	550
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	4,200
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Damages from Product, Cancer [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	300
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	415
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | CANADA | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	3
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | ONTARIO | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	1
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | QUEBEC | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	1
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | ALBERTA | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Cases	1
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | CALIFORNIA | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	95
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	500
Product Liability Litigation [Member] | Other states [Member] | Byetta [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	10
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs	10
Lilly Portion [Member] | Compensatory Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Parties Jointly and Severally Liable in Litigation, Percent Share	25.00%
Lilly Portion [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	3,000.0
Takeda Portion [Member] | Compensatory Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Parties Jointly and Severally Liable in Litigation, Percent Share	75.00%
Takeda Portion [Member] | Punitive Damages [Member] | Actos [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	6,000.0
Employee Litigation [Member] | Brazil [Member]
Loss Contingency, Number of Lawsuits	30
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value	$ 450.0