SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (New Credit Agreement, Tranche B Term Loans, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 13, 2012 numerator denominator
New Credit Agreement \| Tranche B Term Loans
New Senior Secured Credit Facilities
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 600.0
Quarterly amortization of credit facilities, annual rate (as a percent)		1.00%
Nation's thirty largest banks, minimum percentage		75.00%
Spread over federal funds effective rate (as a percent)		0.50%
Minimum LIBO rate (as a percent)	1.00%
Secured leverage ratio for last day of each quarter including the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2012, maximum, numerator		2.50
Secured leverage ratio for last day of each quarter including the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2012, maximum, denominator		1.00
Interest coverage ratio, maximum, numerator		3.00
Interest coverage ratio, maximum, denominator		1.00

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Represents the minimum percentage of the nations thirty largest banks which posted corporate loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_DebtInstrumentInterestRateMinimumPercentageOfNationsThirtyLargestBanks
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the spread over the federal funds effective rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_DebtInstrumentInterestRateSpreadOverFederalFundsEffectiveRate
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Repersents the minimum variable rate as per the credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_DebtInstrumentVariableRateMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the denominator for the maximum interest coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumInterestCoverageRatioDenominator
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the numerator for the maximum interest coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumInterestCoverageRatioNumerator
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the denominator for the maximum secured leverage ratio through the first year after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumSecuredLeverageRatioThroughOneYearDenominator
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the numerator for the maximum secured leverage ratio through the first year after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumSecuredLeverageRatioThroughOneYearNumerator
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the annual rate for the amortization in quarterly installments of original principal amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_LineOfCreditFacilityQuarterlyAmortizationPercentageAnnualRate
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant