LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Details) RUB in Millions, $ in Millions													1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2015 cases	Oct. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 02, 2015 case	Apr. 06, 2015 case	Nov. 07, 2014 case	Dec. 04, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 04, 2013 RUB	May. 24, 2013 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 11, 2009	May. 16, 2008 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 12, 2015 case	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 case cases
Canada
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed | cases																6
Salix
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed					2	2								6
Number of punitive class action lawsuits						3
B&L | MoistureLoc
Legal proceedings and other matters
Currently active lawsuits/claims (less than for 5)																321
Number consolidated cases																2
Number of cases settled																630
Affiliated Entity
Legal proceedings and other matters
Total settlement amount payable | $									$ 34
Required compliance and ethics period									3 years
Natur Produkt | Anti-Grippin Trademark
Legal proceedings and other matters
Damages awarded to plaintiff | RUB								RUB 1,660
Natur Produkt | Anti-Grippin Trademark | Other Expense
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recognized charge during period | $			$ 25				$ 50								$ 25
Filed but not yet served | Canada
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed																2
Investigation by the State of Texas | Subsequent event
Legal proceedings and other matters
Damages sought | $													$ 20
Synergetics Shareholder Class Action
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed				4
Synergetics Shareholder Class Action | MISSOURI
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed				3
R&O Pharmacy Complaint
Legal proceedings and other matters
Damages sought | $		$ 19
DOJ Subpoena, Salix [Member]
Legal proceedings and other matters
Total settlement amount payable | $										$ 54
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											5 years
Non-Fusarium Cases | B&L | MoistureLoc
Legal proceedings and other matters
Currently active lawsuits/claims (less than for 5)																320
Unfavorable Regulatory Action
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed | cases	4
Violation of Canadian Provincial Securities Legislation | Canada
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recent suits filed | cases																5
Fusarium Cases | B&L | MoistureLoc | Outside the U.S.
Legal proceedings and other matters
Currently active lawsuits/claims (less than for 5)																1