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.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the upfront payment made for business acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceUpfrontPayment
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=vrx_EyeGateIIDeliverySystemAndEGP437Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis=vrx_DevelopmentAndRegulatoryMilestonesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis=vrx_SalesBasedMilestonePaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

ACQUISITIONS - Licensing Agreement (Details)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
ACQUISITIONS - Licensing Agreement (Details)	Sep. 30, 2017 business	Dec. 31, 2016 business	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 21, 2017 USD ($)
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Number of business combinations \| business	0	1
EGP-437 \| Development and Regulatory Milestones
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Upfront payment			$ 4,000,000
Range of potential milestone payment, high				$ 34,000,000
EGP-437 \| Sales Based Milestone Payments
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Range of potential milestone payment, high				$ 65,000,000