SEGMENT AND SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	$ 730,100	$ 712,435	$ 1,466,102	$ 1,289,116
Other Revenue	8,163	14,475	17,274	34,379
Total External Revenues	738,263	726,910	1,483,376	1,323,495
Inter-Segment Revenues	9,369	6,423	14,718	15,342
Elimination of Inter-Segment Revenues	(9,369)	(6,423)	(14,718)	(15,342)
TOTAL REVENUES	738,263	726,910	1,483,376	1,323,495
Income (loss) before income taxes	198,281	155,647	512,622	304,295
Total assets	5,753,086		5,753,086		4,891,833
United States
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	532,657	525,977	1,062,038	1,000,405
Other Revenue	7,170	12,345	14,853	28,129
Total External Revenues	539,827	538,322	1,076,891	1,028,534
Inter-Segment Revenues	7,028	6,417	12,289	15,336
Elimination of Inter-Segment Revenues	(7,028)	(6,417)	(12,289)	(15,336)
TOTAL REVENUES	539,827	538,322	1,076,891	1,028,534
Income (loss) before income taxes	202,364	156,188	520,259	298,030
Total assets	3,963,015		3,963,015		3,297,595
United States | AMRIX | Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	13,554	28,548	36,586	53,683
United States | PROVIGIL | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	237,684	268,550	481,027	513,151
United States | NUVIGIL | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	58,576	40,968	110,608	75,890
United States | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	305,025	320,636	611,438	608,458
United States | CNS | GABITRIL
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	8,765	11,118	19,803	19,417
United States | Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	87,506	93,415	174,090	184,749
United States | Pain | FENTORA
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	41,910	38,861	80,953	77,341
United States | Pain | ACTIQ
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	14,607	14,471	30,093	29,411
United States | Pain | Generic OTFC
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	6,015	11,535	15,038	24,314
United States | Pain | Generic AMRIX
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	11,420		11,420
United States | Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	130,864	105,985	254,092	191,797
United States | Oncology | TREANDA
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	125,847	99,732	243,572	180,989
United States | Oncology | Other Proprietary Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	5,017	6,253	10,520	10,808
United States | Other.
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	9,262	5,941	22,418	15,401
United States | Other. | Other Proprietary
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	4,726	2,883	10,731	8,247
United States | Other. | Other Generic
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	4,536	3,058	11,687	7,154
Europe
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	197,443	186,458	404,064	288,711
Other Revenue	993	2,130	2,421	6,250
Total External Revenues	198,436	188,588	406,485	294,961
Inter-Segment Revenues	2,341	6	2,429	6
Elimination of Inter-Segment Revenues	(2,341)	(6)	(2,429)	(6)
TOTAL REVENUES	198,436	188,588	406,485	294,961
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,083)	(541)	(7,637)	6,265
Total assets	1,790,071		1,790,071		1,594,238
Europe | PROVIGIL | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	13,462	16,280	28,515	34,130
Europe | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	27,225	28,530	55,495	53,159
Europe | CNS | GABITRIL
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	1,165	1,024	2,254	2,486
Europe | CNS | Other Proprietary CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	2,608	2,652	4,961	5,658
Europe | CNS | Generic CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	9,990	8,574	19,765	10,885
Europe | Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	53,127	41,333	97,081	65,754
Europe | Pain | FENTORA
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	9,516	5,661	16,874	9,390
Europe | Pain | Other Proprietary Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales		49	61	108
Europe | Pain | ACTIQ
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	15,387	14,067	28,056	32,558
Europe | Pain | Other Generic Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	28,224	21,556	52,090	23,698
Europe | Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	27,887	24,473	53,799	48,818
Europe | Oncology | Other Proprietary Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	21,699	18,769	41,433	38,960
Europe | Oncology | Generic Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	6,188	5,704	12,366	9,858
Europe | Other.
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	89,204	92,122	197,689	120,980
Europe | Other. | Other Proprietary
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	1,804	1,754	4,018	1,754
Europe | Other. | Other Generic
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	87,400	90,368	193,671	119,226
PROVIGIL | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	251,146	284,830	509,542	547,281
NUVIGIL | CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	58,576	40,968	110,608	75,890
CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	332,250	349,166	666,933	661,617
CNS | GABITRIL
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	9,930	12,142	22,057	21,903
CNS | Other Proprietary CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	2,608	2,652	4,961	5,658
CNS | Generic CNS
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	9,990	8,574	19,765	10,885
AMRIX | Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	13,554	28,548	36,586	53,683
Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	140,633	134,748	271,171	250,503
Pain | FENTORA
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	51,426	44,522	97,827	86,731
Pain | Other Proprietary Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales		49	61	108
Pain | ACTIQ
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	29,994	28,538	58,149	61,969
Pain | Generic OTFC
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	6,015	11,535	15,038	24,314
Pain | Generic AMRIX
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	11,420		11,420
Pain | Other Generic Pain
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	28,224	21,556	52,090	23,698
Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	158,751	130,458	307,891	240,615
Oncology | TREANDA
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	125,847	99,732	243,572	180,989
Oncology | Other Proprietary Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	26,716	25,022	51,953	49,768
Oncology | Generic Oncology
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	6,188	5,704	12,366	9,858
Other.
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	98,466	98,063	220,107	136,381
Other. | Other Proprietary
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	6,530	4,637	14,749	10,001
Other. | Other Generic
Segment and subsidiary information
Total Net Sales	$ 91,936	$ 93,426	$ 205,358	$ 126,380