SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,136	$ 2,219	$ 6,259	$ 6,561
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,055	1,105	3,050	3,326
Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	394	392	1,207	1,124
OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	352	397	1,046	1,153
Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	307	292	870	859
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	28	33	86	99
Bausch Lomb/ International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,147	1,234	3,459	3,591
Bausch Lomb/ International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	222	241	667	722
Bausch Lomb/ International | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	365	367	1,117	1,049
Bausch Lomb/ International | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	352	397	1,046	1,153
Bausch Lomb/ International | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	192	213	576	613
Bausch Lomb/ International | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	16	16	53	54
Salix
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	460	452	1,323	1,141
Salix | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	460	452	1,323	1,140
Salix | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	1
Ortho Dermatologics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	177	177	460	556
Ortho Dermatologics | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	140	140	348	448
Ortho Dermatologics | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	29	25	90	75
Ortho Dermatologics | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	8	12	22	33
Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	352	356	1,017	1,273
Diversified Products | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	233	272	712	1,016
Diversified Products | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Diversified Products | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Diversified Products | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	115	79	294	246
Diversified Products | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4	$ 5	$ 11	$ 11