Debt (The Receivables Facility) (Details) (USD $)			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 29, 2012 Receivables Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Receivables Facility [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Receivables Facility [Member] Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Receivables facility, maximum commitment limit				500,000,000
Maturity period			3 years
Accounts receivable from securitization				635,500,000
Interest rate on borrowings				1.01%
Short-term borrowings	$ 443,567,000	$ 128,054,000		$ 285,000,000