Consolidated Statements Of Equity And Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Comprehensive Earnings [Member]	Total
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,070	$ 197,684	$ 3,955,725	$ 566,594	$ (1,582,538)	$ (380,802)	$ 29,108		$ 2,786,841
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2008	2,139,000	395,368,062			(90,635,441)
Net earnings				232,571			15,177	247,748	247,748
Change in unrecognized gains and prior service cost related to post-retirement plans, net of tax						1,471		1,471	1,471
Foreign currency translation adjustment						384,220	(2)	384,218	384,218
Net unrecognized (loss) gain on derivatives, net of tax						6,134		6,134	6,134
Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax								614
Reclassification for gains (losses) included in net earnings								170
Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities						784		784	784
Other comprehensive earnings								392,607
Comprehensive earnings								640,355
Comprehensive earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest								(15,175)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Mylan Inc.								625,180
Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered for payment		658	14,908						15,566
Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered for payment, shares		1,315,830							1,354,218
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld			(10,526)		7,661				(2,865)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld, shares					436,289
Stock-based compensation expense			31,166						31,166
Tax benefit of stock option plans			1,433						1,433
Dividends on preferred shares				(139,035)					(139,035)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest			(158,074)				(24,203)		(182,277)
Sale of subsidiary							(7,872)		(7,872)
Other			42				1,844		1,886
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,070	198,342	3,834,674	660,130	(1,574,877)	11,807	14,052		3,145,198
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009	2,139,000	396,683,892			(90,199,152)
Net earnings				345,115			427	345,542	345,542
Change in unrecognized gains and prior service cost related to post-retirement plans, net of tax						(1,237)		(1,237)	(1,237)
Foreign currency translation adjustment						131,438		131,438	131,438
Net unrecognized (loss) gain on derivatives, net of tax						29,687		29,687	29,687
Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax								(81)
Reclassification for gains (losses) included in net earnings								253
Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities						172		172	172
Other comprehensive earnings								160,060
Comprehensive earnings								505,602
Comprehensive earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest								(427)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Mylan Inc.								505,175
Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered for payment		1,950	52,703						54,653
Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered for payment, shares		3,899,484							3,900,514
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld			(11,923)		8,588				(3,335)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld, shares					492,065
Preferred stock conversion	(1,070)	62,617	(61,547)
Preferred stock conversion, shares	(2,139,000)	125,234,173
Stock-based compensation expense			31,385						31,385
Tax benefit of stock option plans			7,253						7,253
Dividends on preferred shares				(121,535)					(121,535)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest			(4,622)				(830)		(5,452)
Other			1,759				(127)		1,632
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010		262,909	3,849,682	883,710	(1,566,289)	171,867	13,522		3,615,401
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		525,817,549			(89,707,087)
Net earnings				536,810			1,993	538,803	538,803
Change in unrecognized gains and prior service cost related to post-retirement plans, net of tax						(1,190)		(1,190)	(1,190)
Foreign currency translation adjustment						(224,424)		(224,424)	(224,424)
Net unrecognized (loss) gain on derivatives, net of tax						(34,125)		(34,125)	(34,125)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax								149
Reclassification for gains (losses) included in net earnings								(116)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities						33		33	33
Other comprehensive earnings								(259,706)
Comprehensive earnings								279,097
Comprehensive earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest								(1,993)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Mylan Inc.								277,104
Share repurchase, value					(349,998)				(349,998)
Share repurchase, shares					(14,773,006)
Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered for payment		2,249	65,489						67,738
Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered for payment, shares		4,497,904							4,514,170
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld			(20,973)		14,850				(6,123)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld, shares					843,077
Stock-based compensation expense			42,576						42,576
Tax benefit of stock option plans			11,153						11,153
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest			(2,607)				(2,385)		(4,992)
Warrant amendment and exchange			(149,947)						(149,947)
Other							(123)		(123)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 265,158	$ 3,795,373	$ 1,420,520	$ (1,901,437)	$ (87,839)	$ 13,007		$ 3,504,782
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		530,315,453			(103,637,016)