INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Amortization expense related to intangible assets recorded as follows:
Alliance and royalty revenue	$ 268	$ 268	$ 536	$ 536
Cost of goods sold	2,025	2,025	4,051	4,051
Amortization expense	114,946	33,299	226,989	66,599
Total amortization of intangible assets	117,239	35,592	231,576	71,186
Estimated aggregate amortization expense
2011			568,585
2012			532,388
2013			529,162
2014			519,943
2015			$ 506,252

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(2)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate amount of intangible asset amortization recognized as expense during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(2)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsFutureAmortizationExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the remainder of the current fiscal year.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	vrx_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate amount of intangible asset amortization expense included in alliance and royalty revenue during the period.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssetsIncludedInAllianceAndRoyaltyRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate amount of intangible asset amortization expense included in cost of goods sold during the period.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssetsIncludedInCostOfGoodsSold
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the first full fiscal year following the date of the most recent balance sheet.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_FutureAmortizationExpenseFirstFullFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fourth full fiscal year following the date of the most recent balance sheet.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_FutureAmortizationExpenseFourthFullFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the second full fiscal year following the date of the most recent balance sheet.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_FutureAmortizationExpenseSecondFullFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the third full fiscal year following the date of the most recent balance sheet.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_FutureAmortizationExpenseThirdFullFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	vrx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration