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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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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.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

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=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3536-108585

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
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Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier.

No definition available.

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

Loss Contingency, Number of Class Action Cases

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=vrx_DepomedPDLLitigationMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

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

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=vrx_SproutPharmaceuticalsInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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