CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Shareholders' equity	Common Shares	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Noncontrolling Interest	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,201,599	$ 1,201,599	$ 1,463,873	$ 31,966	$ (319,909)	$ 25,669
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008			158,216,000
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Equity component of 5.375% Convertible Notes for the year 2009 and fair value of equity componenet of valeant 4.0% Convertible Notes and call options for the year 2010, respectively	53,995	53,995		53,995
Common shares issued under share-based compensation plans	866	866	1,131	(265)
Common shares issued under share-based compensation plans (in shares)			95,000
Share-based compensation	5,613	5,613		5,613
Cash dividends declared and dividend equivalents ($1.28 and $0.645 per share for the year ended 2010 and 2009, respectively)	(102,061)	(102,061)		459	(102,520)
Total before comprehensive income (loss)	1,160,012	1,160,012	1,465,004	91,768	(422,429)	25,669
Total before comprehensive income (loss) (in shares)			158,311,000
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	176,455	176,455			176,455			176,455
Other comprehensive income (loss)	17,905	17,905				17,905		17,905
Total comprehensive income (loss)	194,360	194,360						194,360
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,354,372	1,354,372	1,465,004	91,768	(245,974)	43,574
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			158,311,000
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Acquisition of Valeant, equity issued	3,880,301	3,880,301	3,710,888	169,413
Acquisition of Valeant, equity issued (in shares)			139,267,000
Equity component of 5.375% Convertible Notes for the year 2009 and fair value of equity componenet of valeant 4.0% Convertible Notes and call options for the year 2010, respectively	253,971	253,971		253,971
Equity settlement and reclassification of call options	(32,694)	(32,694)	3,602	(38,224)	1,928
Equity settlement and reclassification of call options (in shares)			145,000
Repurchase of equity component of 5.375% Convertible Notes	(131,723)	(131,723)		(20,444)	(111,279)
Common shares issued under share-based compensation plans	58,425	58,425	110,513	(52,088)
Common shares issued under share-based compensation plans (in shares)			6,959,000
Employee withholding taxes related to share-based awards	(14,485)	(14,485)		(14,485)
Repurchase of common shares	(60,130)	(60,130)	(40,442)		(19,688)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)			(2,305,000)
Share-based compensation	98,033	98,033		98,033
Cash dividends declared and dividend equivalents ($1.28 and $0.645 per share for the year ended 2010 and 2009, respectively)	(342,043)	(342,043)		7,097	(349,140)
Cash dividends reinvested through dividend reinvestment plan			2,165		(2,165)
Cash dividends reinvested through dividend reinvestment plan (in shares)			72,000
Total before comprehensive income (loss)	5,064,027	5,064,027	5,251,730	495,041	(726,318)	43,574
Total before comprehensive income (loss) (in shares)			302,449,000
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	(208,193)	(208,193)			(208,193)			(208,193)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	55,262	55,262				55,262		55,262
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(152,931)	(152,931)						(152,931)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	4,911,096	4,911,096	5,251,730	495,041	(934,511)	98,836
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	302,448,934		302,449,000
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Settlement of 4% Convertible Notes	225,983	225,983	892,000	(225,971)	(440,046)
Settlement of 4% Convertible Notes (in shares)			17,783,000
Equity settlement and reclassification of call options	(66,863)	(66,863)	(36,343)	11,072	(41,592)
Equity settlement and reclassification of call options (in shares)			(2,999,000)
Repurchase of equity component of 5.375% Convertible Notes	(414,003)	(414,003)		(33,169)	(380,834)
Common shares issued under share-based compensation plans	41,717	41,717	121,099	(79,382)
Common shares issued under share-based compensation plans (in shares)			4,338,000
Employee withholding taxes related to share-based awards	(37,702)	(37,702)		(19,211)	(18,491)
Repurchase of common shares	(639,242)	(639,242)	(264,865)		(374,377)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)			(15,200,000)
Share-based compensation	94,023	94,023		94,023
Tax benefits from stock options exercised	26,414	26,414		26,414
Reclassification of deferred share units	9,271	9,271		9,271
Noncontrolling interest from business combinations	58,555						58,555
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(58,320)	(1,971)		(1,971)			(56,349)
Total before comprehensive income (loss)	4,150,929	4,148,723	5,963,621	276,117	(2,189,851)	98,836	2,206
Total before comprehensive income (loss) (in shares)			306,371,000
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	159,559	159,559			159,559			159,559
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(303,472)	(301,266)				(301,266)	(2,206)	(303,472)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(143,913)	(141,707)					(2,206)	(143,913)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 4,007,016	$ 4,007,016	$ 5,963,621	$ 276,117	$ (2,030,292)	$ (202,430)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	306,371,032		306,371,000