LONG-TERM DEBT - Senior Notes Narrative (Details) € in Millions														3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2015 EUR (€)	Feb. 20, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 17, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 12, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 04, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2011 USD ($)	Feb. 08, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2015 USD ($)	May. 24, 2014 USD ($)	Nov. 23, 2010 USD ($)
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)																		7.50%
Total gross maturities																		$ 31,436,600,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt																	$ 94,000,000	20,000,000	$ 129,600,000	$ 65,000,000
Issuance of long-term debt, net of discount																		17,817,400,000	$ 1,629,600,000	8,385,400,000
Issuance of common stock	$ 1,450,000,000								$ 2,300,000,000									$ 1,482,300,000		$ 2,306,900,000
Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Restricted cash	10,340,000,000
Issuance of common stock	$ 1,450,000,000
7.25% Senior Notes due in July 2022
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)											7.25%					7.25%		7.25%	7.25%
Amount borrowed											$ 550,000,000
7.00% Senior Notes due in October 2020
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)													7.00%			7.00%		7.00%	7.00%
Amount borrowed													$ 700,000,000
6.875% Senior Notes due in December 2018
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount																							$ 1,000,000,000.0
Stated interest rate (as a percent)																6.875%		6.875%	6.875%				6.875%
Aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased				$ 500,000,000		$ 445,000,000
Repurchases of convertible debt				524,000,000		463,000,000
Call premium				$ 17,000,000		$ 15,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt															$ 20,000,000	$ 18,000,000
6.75% Senior Notes due in August 2021
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)												6.75%				6.75%		6.75%	6.75%
Amount borrowed												$ 650,000,000
6.375% Senior Notes due in October 2020
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)										6.375%						6.375%		6.375%	6.375%
Amount borrowed										$ 1,750,000,000
6.375% Senior Notes due in October 2020
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Amount borrowed										$ 500,000,000
6.75% Senior Notes due August 2018
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)								6.75%								6.75%		6.75%	6.75%
Amount borrowed								$ 1,600,000,000
7.50% Senior Notes due July 2021
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)								7.50%								7.50%			7.50%
Amount borrowed								$ 1,630,000,000
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount that may be redeemed with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings								35.00%
5.625 % Senior Notes due December 2021
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)							5.625%									5.625%		5.625%	5.625%
Amount borrowed							$ 900,000,000
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount that may be redeemed with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings							35.00%
Bridge loan facility | B&L
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity																						$ 9,280,000,000.00
Incremental Term Loan Facility
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Effective interest rate																		3.59%
Incremental Term Loan Facility | B&L
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity																						9,580,000,000.00
Incremental Term Loan Facility | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 15,250,000,000.00
Incremental Term Loan Facilities | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			5,150,000,000.00																		$ 5,150,000,000.00
Senior Credit Facilities | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			5,550,000,000.00
Senior Unsecured Bridge Facility [Member] | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			9,600,000,000.00
Amended and Restated Commitment Letter | B&L
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs																						$ 37,000,000
Amended and Restated Commitment Letter | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs expensed															$ 72,000,000
5.50% Senior Notes due March 2023
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)					5.50%											5.50%		5.50%	5.50%
Amount borrowed					$ 1,000,000,000
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount that may be redeemed with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings					40.00%
5.375% Senior Notes due March 2020
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.375%															5.375%		5.375%	5.375%
Amount borrowed	$ 2,000,000,000
5.875% Senior Notes due May 2023
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.875%															5.875%		5.875%	5.875%
Amount borrowed	$ 3,250,000,000
4.50% Senior Notes Due 2023
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.50%															4.50%		4.50%	4.50%
Amount borrowed	$ 1,500,000,000	€ 1,500
6.125% Senior Notes due April 2025
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%															6.125%		6.125%	6.125%
Amount borrowed	$ 3,250,000,000
5.375%, 5.875%, 4.50% and 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Maximum percentage of the aggregate principal amount that may be redeemed with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings	40.00%	40.00%
5.375%, 5.875%, 4.50% and 6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Amount borrowed			$ 10,100,000,000
Convertible Debt | Convertible Notes 2.75% Due May 2015
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)														2.75%							2.75%
Average price per principal amount														$ 3,729.46
Total gross maturities																					$ 345,000,000
Convertible Debt | Convertible Notes 2.75% Due May 2015 | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)																		2.75%
Convertible Debt | Convertible Notes 1.5% Due March 2019
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)														1.50%							1.50%
Average price per principal amount														$ 2,663.26
Total gross maturities																					$ 690,000,000
Convertible Debt | Convertible Notes 1.5% Due March 2019 | Salix
Long-term debt [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)																		1.50%			1.50%