ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012 Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel ("IDP-111") and Fluorouracil cream ("5-FU")	Dec. 31, 2011 Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel ("IDP-111")	Dec. 31, 2011 Fluorouracil cream ("5-FU")	Mar. 31, 2011 Cloderm Cream	Dec. 31, 2012 Zovirax	Mar. 25, 2011 Zovirax	Oct. 31, 2011 Lodalis	Jun. 30, 2011 Lodalis	Jun. 30, 2010 Istradefylline	Jun. 30, 2010 Istradefylline	Mar. 31, 2011 Ampakin	Mar. 31, 2010 Ampakin	Mar. 31, 2010 Ampakin	Feb. 28, 2010 Staccato Loxapine	Mar. 31, 2010 Staccato Loxapine
Asset acquisitions and disposition
Impairment charges					$ 7,900,000	$ 19,800,000
Classified as Assets held for sale					54,400,000	14,800,000
Net cash proceeds				66,300,000
Amount expensed as cost of alliance revenue	116,983,000	43,082,000	10,155,000	69,200,000
Upfront payment received for exclusive license							36,000,000
Fair value of product rights intangible asset							31,800,000
Adjusted carrying value of intangible assets	8,761,793,000	7,110,174,000					30,700,000	91,400,000
Cash paid									300,000,000
Term of distribution agreement								20 years
Useful life of intangible asset								11 years
Amount (received) paid	73,495,000	327,437,000	84,532,000							5,000,000	2,000,000	10,000,000			10,000,000		40,000,000
Acquisition costs charged to acquired IPR&D expense													200,000			700,000		300,000
Upfront payment received for sale of IPR&D														$ 200,000