BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Identifiable intangible assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended				9 Months Ended								0 Months Ended							0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended				12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L		Aug. 05, 2013 B&L Product brands	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L Product rights	Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions		Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions Product brands	Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions Corporate brands	Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions Patents	Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions Royalty agreement	Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions Partner relationships	Sep. 30, 2013 Obagi, Eisai, Natur Produkt and other smaller acquisitions Technology	Dec. 12, 2012 Medicis	Dec. 11, 2012 Medicis Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)		Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Measurement Period Adjustments		Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)		Dec. 12, 2012 Medicis In licensed Products	Dec. 11, 2012 Medicis In licensed Products Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis In licensed Products Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis In licensed Products Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 12, 2012 Medicis Product brands	Dec. 11, 2012 Medicis Product brands Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Product brands Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Product brands Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 12, 2012 Medicis Corporate brands	Dec. 11, 2012 Medicis Corporate brands Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Corporate brands Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Corporate brands Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 12, 2012 Medicis Patents	Dec. 11, 2012 Medicis Patents Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Patents Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Medicis Patents Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)		Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Measurement Period Adjustments		Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)		Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Product brands	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Product brands Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Product brands Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Product brands Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Corporate brands	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Corporate brands Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Corporate brands Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Corporate brands Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Royalty agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Royalty agreement Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Royalty agreement Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Royalty agreement Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Product rights	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Product rights Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Product rights Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Product rights Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Partner relationships	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Partner relationships Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as previously reported)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Business Combinations Partner relationships Measurement Period Adjustments	Sep. 30, 2013 Other Business Combinations Partner relationships Amounts Recognized (as adjusted)	Sep. 30, 2013 Corporate brands		Aug. 05, 2013 Corporate brands	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate brands
Business Combinations
Weighted-average useful lives (years)	9 years		10 years	8 years	8 years		7 years	13 years	3 years	5 years	5 years	10 years	9 years							11 years				8 years				14 years				5 years				10 years							10 years				12 years				9 years				10 years				5 years
Identifiable intangible assets, excluding acquired IPR&D	$ 4,316,117	[1]	$ 1,770,164	$ 855,402	$ 689,302	[2]	$ 483,592	$ 86,129	$ 71,676	$ 26,466	$ 16,000	$ 5,439		$ 1,390,724	[3],[4]	$ (21,843)	[3],[5]	$ 1,368,881	[3]		$ 633,429	$ 2,283	$ 635,712		$ 491,627	$ (24,877)	$ 466,750		$ 40,683	$ (397)	$ 40,286		$ 224,985	$ 1,148	$ 226,133		$ 666,619	[6]	$ 1,527	[6],[7]	$ 668,146	[6]		$ 456,720	$ (1,325)	$ 455,395		$ 31,934	$ 3,725	$ 35,659		$ 36,277	$ 0	$ 36,277		$ 109,274	$ (873)	$ 108,401		$ 32,414	$ 0	$ 32,414
Indefinite-lived intangible assets																																																															$ 1,690,551	[8]	$ 1,690,551	$ 0	[8]

[1] The following table summarizes the provisional amounts and useful lives assigned to identifiable intangible assets: Weighted- AverageUseful Lives(Years) AmountsRecognized as ofAcquisition DateProduct brands 10 $1,770,164Product rights 8 855,402Corporate brand Indefinite 1,690,551Total identifiable intangible assets acquired 9 $4,316,117The corporate brand represents the B&L corporate trademark and has an indefinite useful life as there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors that limit the useful life of this intangible asset. The estimated fair value was determined using the relief from royalty method.

[2] The following table summarizes the provisional amounts and useful lives assigned to identifiable intangible assets: Weighted- AverageUseful Lives(Years) AmountsRecognized as ofAcquisition DatesProduct brands 7 $483,592Corporate brand 13 86,129Patents 3 71,676Royalty Agreement 5 26,466Partner relationships 5 16,000Technology 10 5,439Total identifiable intangible assets acquired 8 $689,302

[3] The following table summarizes the amounts and useful lives assigned to identifiable intangible assets: Weighted- AverageUseful Lives(Years) AmountsRecognized as ofAcquisition Date(as previouslyreported) MeasurementPeriodAdjustments AmountsRecognized as ofSeptember 30, 2013(as adjusted)In-licensed products 11 $633,429 $2,283 $635,712Product brands 8 491,627 (24,877) 466,750Patents 5 224,985 1,148 226,133Corporate brands 14 40,683 (397) 40,286Total identifiable intangible assets acquired 9 $1,390,724 $(21,843) $1,368,881

[4] As previously reported in the 2012 Form 10-K.

[5] The measurement period adjustments primarily reflect: (i) reductions in the estimated fair value of a product brand intangible asset and property and equipment; (ii) changes in estimated inventory reserves; (iii) changes in certain assumptions impacting the fair value of acquired IPR&D; (iv) additional information obtained with respect to the valuation of certain pre-acquisition contingent assets, as well as legal and milestone obligations; and (v) the tax impact of pre-tax measurement period adjustments. The measurement period adjustments were made to reflect facts and circumstances existing as of the acquisition date, and did not result from intervening events subsequent to the acquisition date. These adjustments did not have a significant impact on the Company’s previously reported consolidated financial statements and, therefore, the Company has not retrospectively adjusted those financial statements.

[6] The following table summarizes the amounts and useful lives assigned to identifiable intangible assets: Weighted- AverageUseful Lives(Years) AmountsRecognized as ofAcquisition Date(as previouslyreported) MeasurementPeriodAdjustments AmountsRecognized as ofSeptember 30, 2013(as adjusted)Product brands 10 $456,720 $(1,325) $455,395Corporate brands 12 31,934 3,725 35,659Product rights 10 109,274 (873) 108,401Royalty agreement 9 36,277 — 36,277Partner relationships 5 32,414 — 32,414Total identifiable intangible assets acquired 10 $666,619 $1,527 $668,146

[7] The measurement period adjustments primarily relate to the Probiotica acquisition and primarily reflect: (i) the elimination of the liability for uncertain tax positions; (ii) the changes in the estimated fair value of the corporate brand intangible asset; and (iii) a decrease in the total fair value of consideration transferred due to a working capital adjustment. The measurement period adjustments were made to reflect facts and circumstances existing as of the acquisition date, and did not result from intervening events subsequent to the acquisition date. These adjustments did not have a significant impact on the Company’s previously reported consolidated financial statements and, therefore, the Company has not retrospectively adjusted those financial statements.

[8] Primarily relates to the B&L, Obagi and Natur Produkt acquisitions (as described in note 3).