SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of reportable segments	2
Segment reporting information
Revenues	$ 1,068,355	$ 856,103
Segment profit (loss)	213,810	178,690
Restructuring, integration and other costs	(48,985)	(62,337)
Acquisition-related costs	(7,899)	(7,505)
Legal settlements and related fees	(4,448)	(3,155)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	2,185	(9,839)
Operating income	117,006	61,496
Interest income	1,596	1,123
Interest expense	(155,315)	(102,025)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(21,379)	(133)
Foreign exchange and other	1,439	24,299
Gain on investments, net	1,859	2,059
Loss before recovery of income taxes	(54,794)	(13,181)
Stock-based compensation expense	9,095	19,152
Total assets	17,486,467		17,950,379
Identifiable intangible assets	9,227,321		9,308,669
Goodwill	5,165,247		5,141,366
Developed Markets
Segment reporting information
Revenues	771,144	618,888
Segment profit (loss)	185,253	155,719
Total assets	12,521,653		12,859,099
Goodwill	4,004,793		3,988,795
Developed Markets | Eisai
Segment reporting information
Identifiable intangible assets	112,000
Developed Markets | Medicis, OraPharma, Eisai, J&J North America and University Medical
Segment reporting information
Revenues	256,500
Developed Markets | Medicis and legacy Valeant
Segment reporting information
Segment profit (loss)	203,500
Emerging Markets
Segment reporting information
Revenues	297,211	237,215
Segment profit (loss)	28,557	22,971
Total assets	4,187,783		4,056,666
Goodwill	1,160,454		1,152,571
Emerging Markets | Natur Produkt
Segment reporting information
Identifiable intangible assets	98,800
Goodwill	34,700
Emerging Markets | Natur Produkt, Gerot Lannach and Atlantis acquisitions
Segment reporting information
Revenues	48,000
Emerging Markets | Legacy Valeant
Segment reporting information
Segment profit (loss)	56,500
Total Segment
Segment reporting information
Total assets	16,709,436		16,915,765
Corporate
Segment reporting information
Segment profit (loss)	(37,657)	(34,358)
Stock-based compensation expense	9,100	19,200
Total assets	$ 777,031		$ 1,034,614