SUMMARY QUARTERLY INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues
Product sales													$ 10,292.2	$ 8,046.1	$ 5,640.3
Other revenues													154.3	159.9	129.3
Total revenues	$ 2,757.2	$ 2,786.8	$ 2,732.4	$ 2,170.1	$ 2,235.4	$ 2,043.3	$ 2,041.1	$ 1,886.2	$ 4,902.5	$ 3,927.3	$ 7,689.3	$ 5,970.6	10,446.5	8,206.0	5,769.6
Expenses
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets shown separately below)													2,531.6	2,177.7	1,846.3
Cost of other revenues													53.1	58.4	58.8
Selling, general and administrative													2,699.8	2,026.3	1,305.2
Research and development													334.4	246.0	156.8
Amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets													2,418.3	1,550.7	1,902.0
Restructuring, integration and other costs													361.9	381.7	462.0
In-process research and development impairments and other charges													248.4	41.0	153.6
Acquisition-related costs													38.5	6.3	36.4
Acquisition-related contingent consideration													(23.0)	(14.1)	(29.2)
Other expense (income)													256.1	(268.7)	287.2
Total expenses	2,590.1	2,339.0	2,390.9	1,599.1	1,618.0	1,371.7	1,686.0	1,529.6	3,990.0	3,215.6	6,329.0	4,587.3	8,919.1	6,205.3	6,179.1
Operating income (loss)	167.1	447.8	341.5	571.0	617.4	671.6	355.1	356.6	912.5	711.7	1,360.3	1,383.3	1,527.4	2,000.7	(409.5)
Interest income													3.3	5.0	8.0
Interest expense													(1,563.2)	(971.0)	(844.3)
Loss on extinguishment of debt								(94.0)					(20.0)	(129.6)	(65.0)
Foreign exchange and other													(102.8)	(144.1)	(9.4)
Gain on investments, net													0.0	292.6	5.8
(Loss) Income before provision for (recovery of) income taxes													(155.3)	1,053.6	(1,314.4)
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes													132.5	174.2	(450.8)
Net (loss) income													(287.8)	879.4	(863.6)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest													3.9	(1.3)	2.5
Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.	$ (385.9)	$ 49.5	$ (53.0)	$ 97.7	$ 512.5	$ 265.0	$ 125.8	$ (22.6)	$ 44.7	$ 103.2	$ 94.2	$ 368.2	$ (291.7)	$ 880.7	$ (866.1)
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.:
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.12)	$ 0.14	$ (0.15)	$ 0.29	$ 1.53	$ 0.79	$ 0.38	$ (0.07)	$ 0.13	$ 0.31	$ 0.28	$ 1.10	$ (0.85)	$ 2.63	$ (2.70)
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.12)	$ 0.14	$ (0.15)	$ 0.28	$ 1.50	$ 0.78	$ 0.37	$ (0.07)	$ 0.13	$ 0.30	$ 0.27	$ 1.08	$ (0.85)	$ 2.58	$ (2.70)
Weighted-average common shares (in millions)
Weighted-average common shares, basic (in shares)													342.7	335.4	321.0
Weighted-average common shares, diluted (in shares)													342.7	341.5	321.0
Revenue recognition correction
Revenues
Product sales				$ 2,126.1	$ 2,190.9	$ 2,010.0			$ 4,821.1		$ 7,569.3	$ 5,855.2		$ 8,046.1
Other revenues				44.0	44.5	33.3			81.4		120.0	115.4		159.9
Total revenues				2,170.1	2,235.4	2,043.3			4,902.5		7,689.3	5,970.6		8,206.0
Expenses
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets shown separately below)				507.9	558.8	545.2			1,177.8		1,812.4	1,618.9		2,177.7
Cost of other revenues				14.3	13.1	15.0			29.5		43.1	45.3		58.4
Selling, general and administrative				573.8	524.5	504.1			1,259.3		1,956.9	1,501.8		2,026.3
Research and development				55.8	59.1	59.1			136.9		238.5	186.9		246.0
Amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets				365.2	436.8	393.1			950.6		1,629.8	1,113.9		1,550.7
Restructuring, integration and other costs				55.0	44.3	61.7			198.4		274.0	337.4		381.7
In-process research and development impairments and other charges					0.7	19.9			12.3		108.1	40.3		41.0
Acquisition-related costs				13.9	2.6	1.6			23.4		30.4	3.7		6.3
Acquisition-related contingent consideration				7.1	(28.9)	4.0			18.8		22.6	14.8		(14.1)
Other expense (income)				6.1	7.0	(232.0)			183.0		213.2	(275.7)		(268.7)
Total expenses				1,599.1	1,618.0	1,371.7			3,990.0		6,329.0	4,587.3		6,205.3
Operating income (loss)				571.0	617.4	671.6			912.5		1,360.3	1,383.3		2,000.7
Interest income				0.9	1.2	0.8			1.8		2.5	3.8		5.0
Interest expense				(297.8)	(224.9)	(258.4)			(710.5)		(1,130.7)	(746.1)		(971.0)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(20.0)	(35.9)	0.0			(20.0)		(20.0)	(93.7)		(129.6)
Foreign exchange and other				(71.1)	(81.1)	(53.0)			(65.5)		(99.5)	(63.0)		(144.1)
Gain on investments, net					286.7	3.4						5.9		292.6
(Loss) Income before provision for (recovery of) income taxes				183.0	563.4	364.4			118.3		112.6	490.2		1,053.6
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes				84.5	51.7	98.4			71.4		14.0	122.5		174.2
Net (loss) income				98.5	511.7	266.0			46.9		98.6	367.7		879.4
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest				0.8	(0.8)	1.0			2.2		4.4	(0.5)		(1.3)
Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.				$ 97.7	$ 512.5	$ 265.0			$ 44.7		$ 94.2	$ 368.2		$ 880.7
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.:
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share)				$ 0.29	$ 1.53	$ 0.79			$ 0.13		$ 0.28	$ 1.10		$ 2.63
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share)				$ 0.28	$ 1.50	$ 0.78			$ 0.13		$ 0.27	$ 1.08		$ 2.58
Weighted-average common shares (in millions)
Weighted-average common shares, basic (in shares)				336.8	335.8	335.4			340.5		340.8	335.2		335.4
Weighted-average common shares, diluted (in shares)				343.4	341.9	341.3			347.1		347.2	341.4		341.5
Previously reported | Revenue recognition correction
Revenues
Product sales				$ 2,146.9	$ 2,235.5	$ 2,022.9			$ 4,841.9		$ 7,590.1	$ 5,868.1		$ 8,103.6
Other revenues				44.0	44.5	33.3			81.4		120.0	115.4		159.9
Total revenues				2,190.9	2,280.0	2,056.2			4,923.3		7,710.1	5,983.5		8,263.5
Expenses
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets shown separately below)				560.4	576.7	545.8			1,230.3		1,864.9	1,619.5		2,196.2
Cost of other revenues				14.3	13.1	15.0			29.5		43.1	45.3		58.4
Selling, general and administrative				573.8	524.5	504.1			1,259.3		1,956.9	1,501.8		2,026.3
Research and development				55.8	59.1	59.1			136.9		238.5	186.9		246.0
Amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets				365.2	436.8	393.1			950.6		1,629.8	1,113.9		1,550.7
Restructuring, integration and other costs				55.0	44.3	61.7			198.4		274.0	337.4		381.7
In-process research and development impairments and other charges					0.7	19.9			12.3		108.1	40.3		41.0
Acquisition-related costs				9.8	2.6	1.6			19.3		26.3	3.7		6.3
Acquisition-related contingent consideration				7.1	(28.9)	4.0			18.8		22.6	14.8		(14.1)
Other expense (income)				6.1	7.0	(232.0)			183.0		213.2	(275.7)		(268.7)
Total expenses				1,647.5	1,635.9	1,372.3			4,038.4		6,377.4	4,587.9		6,223.8
Operating income (loss)				543.4	644.1	683.9			884.9		1,332.7	1,395.6		2,039.7
Interest income				0.9	1.2	0.8			1.8		2.5	3.8		5.0
Interest expense				(297.8)	(224.9)	(258.4)			(710.5)		(1,130.7)	(746.1)		(971.0)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				(20.0)	(35.9)	0.0			(20.0)		(20.0)	(93.7)		(129.6)
Foreign exchange and other				(71.1)	(81.1)	(53.0)			(65.5)		(99.5)	(63.0)		(144.1)
Gain on investments, net					286.7	3.4						5.9		292.6
(Loss) Income before provision for (recovery of) income taxes				155.4	590.1	376.7			90.7		85.0	502.5		1,092.6
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes				80.9	56.0	100.3			67.8		10.4	124.4		180.4
Net (loss) income				74.5	534.1	276.4			22.9		74.6	378.1		912.2
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest				0.8	(0.8)	1.0			2.2		4.4	(0.5)		(1.3)
Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.				$ 73.7	$ 534.9	$ 275.4			$ 20.7		$ 70.2	$ 378.6		$ 913.5
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.:
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share)				$ 0.22	$ 1.59	$ 0.82			$ 0.06		$ 0.21	$ 1.13		$ 2.72
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share)				$ 0.21	$ 1.56	$ 0.81			$ 0.06		$ 0.20	$ 1.11		$ 2.67
Weighted-average common shares (in millions)
Weighted-average common shares, basic (in shares)				336.8	335.8	335.4			340.5		340.8	335.2		335.4
Weighted-average common shares, diluted (in shares)				343.4	341.9	341.3			347.1		347.2	341.4		341.5
Restatement adjustments | Revenue recognition correction
Revenues
Product sales				$ (20.8)	$ (44.6)	$ (12.9)			$ (20.8)		$ (20.8)	$ (12.9)		$ (57.5)
Other revenues				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Total revenues				(20.8)	(44.6)	(12.9)			(20.8)		(20.8)	(12.9)		(57.5)
Expenses
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets shown separately below)				(52.5)	(17.9)	(0.6)			(52.5)		(52.5)	(0.6)		(18.5)
Cost of other revenues				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Selling, general and administrative				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Research and development				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Amortization and impairments of finite-lived intangible assets				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Restructuring, integration and other costs				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
In-process research and development impairments and other charges					0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Acquisition-related costs				4.1	0.0	0.0			4.1		4.1	0.0		0.0
Acquisition-related contingent consideration				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Other expense (income)				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Total expenses				(48.4)	(17.9)	(0.6)			(48.4)		(48.4)	(0.6)		(18.5)
Operating income (loss)				27.6	(26.7)	(12.3)			27.6		27.6	(12.3)		(39.0)
Interest income				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Interest expense				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Loss on extinguishment of debt				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Foreign exchange and other				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Gain on investments, net					0.0	0.0						0.0		0.0
(Loss) Income before provision for (recovery of) income taxes				27.6	(26.7)	(12.3)			27.6		27.6	(12.3)		(39.0)
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes				3.6	(4.3)	(1.9)			3.6		3.6	(1.9)		(6.2)
Net (loss) income				24.0	(22.4)	(10.4)			24.0		24.0	(10.4)		(32.8)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest				0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0		0.0
Net (loss) income attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.				$ 24.0	$ (22.4)	$ (10.4)			$ 24.0		$ 24.0	$ (10.4)		$ (32.8)
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.:
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share)				$ 0.07	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)			$ 0.07		$ 0.07	$ (0.03)		$ (0.09)
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share)				$ 0.07	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)			$ 0.07		$ 0.07	$ (0.03)		$ (0.09)