Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of claims settled and dismissed during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsSettledAndDismissedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Litigation Settlement, Required Compliance And Ethics Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LitigationSettlementRequiredComplianceAndEthicsPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Number Consolidated Cases

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LossContingencyNumberConsolidatedCases
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Number of Class Action Cases

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LossContingencyNumberofClassActionCases
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the term of obligations under the agreement entered by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LossContingencyObligationTerm
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of penalty charged against the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LossContingencyPenaltyAmount
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=vrx_SalixMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=vrx_MoistureLocMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=vrx_BLMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=vrx_NaturProduktInternationalJSCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=vrx_AntiGrippinTrademarkMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=vrx_WrittenPleaAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=vrx_BiovailPharmaceuticalsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=vrx_NonprosecutionAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=vrx_CorporateIntegrityAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=vrx_NonFusariumCasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=vrx_OutsidetheUnitedStatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=vrx_FusariumCasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Details) RUB in Millions, $ in Millions										6 Months Ended
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Details) RUB in Millions, $ in Millions	Apr. 09, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 09, 2015 RUB	Mar. 17, 2015 class_action	Nov. 07, 2014 class_action	Dec. 04, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 04, 2013 RUB	May. 24, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 11, 2009	May. 16, 2008 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 suit lawsuit case
Salix
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed \| class_action			6	2
Number of putative class action cases filed \| class_action				3
MoistureLoc \| B&L
Legal proceedings and other matters
Currently active lawsuits/claims \| lawsuit										321
Number consolidated cases										2
Number of cases settled										630
ISTA
Legal proceedings and other matters
Settlement, amount paid \| $							$ 34
Litigation settlement, required compliance and ethics period (in years)							3 years
Natur Produkt \| AntiGrippin Trademark
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed \| suit										2
Damages awarded to plaintiff \| RUB		RUB 1,660				RUB 1,660
Natur Produkt \| AntiGrippin Trademark \| Other (Income) Expense
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recognized charge loss during period \| $	$ 30				$ 50
Written plea agreement \| Biovail Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Legal proceedings and other matters
Civil Penalty \| $									$ 22
Non-prosecution agreement \| Biovail Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Legal proceedings and other matters
Civil Penalty \| $									$ 2
Corporate Integrity Agreement \| Biovail Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Legal proceedings and other matters
Obligation term (in years)								5 years
Non Fusarium Cases \| MoistureLoc \| B&L
Legal proceedings and other matters
Currently active lawsuits/claims										320
Outside the United States \| Fusarium Claims \| MoistureLoc \| B&L
Legal proceedings and other matters
Currently active lawsuits/claims										1