SEGMENT INFORMATION - Segment Revenues and Profit, Assets and Capital Expenditures, Depreciation & Amortization of Intangible Assets & Asset Impairments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment reporting information
Revenue	$ 2,121	$ 2,136	$ 2,128	$ 1,995	$ 2,163	$ 2,219	$ 2,233	$ 2,109	$ 8,380	$ 8,724	$ 9,674
Operating (loss) income	$ 25	$ 117	$ (245)	$ (2,281)	$ (322)	$ 38	$ 175	$ 211	(2,384)	102	(566)
Amortization of intangible assets									(2,644)	(2,690)	(2,673)
Goodwill impairments									(2,322)	(312)	(1,077)
Asset impairments									(568)	(714)	(422)
Restructuring and integration costs									(22)	(52)	(132)
Acquired in-process research and development costs									(1)	(5)	(34)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration									9	289	13
Other income (expense)									21	353	(73)
Interest income									11	12	8
Interest expense									(1,685)	(1,840)	(1,836)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(119)	(122)	0
Foreign exchange and other									23	107	(41)
Loss before benefit from income taxes									(4,154)	(1,741)	(2,435)
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									157	171	235
Operating Segments
Segment reporting information
Revenue									8,380	8,724	9,674
Operating (loss) income									3,748	3,795	4,522
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									144	168	229
Corporate
Segment reporting information
Operating (loss) income									(605)	(562)	(690)
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									13	3	6
Bausch Lomb/International | Operating Segments
Segment reporting information
Revenue									4,664	4,795	4,857
Operating (loss) income									1,330	1,412	1,456
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									139	159	221
Salix | Operating Segments
Segment reporting information
Revenue									1,749	1,566	1,530
Operating (loss) income									1,149	935	946
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									2	3	2
Ortho Dermatologics | Operating Segments
Segment reporting information
Revenue									625	725	949
Operating (loss) income									265	336	408
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									1	2	1
Diversified Products | Operating Segments
Segment reporting information
Revenue									1,342	1,638	2,338
Operating (loss) income									1,004	1,112	1,712
Capital Expenditures, and Depreciation and Amortization
Total capital expenditures									$ 2	$ 4	$ 5