CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 159,559	$ (208,193)	$ 176,455
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	612,603	254,504	149,260
Amortization of deferred revenue	(19,101)	(19,101)	(21,201)
Amortization and write-down of discounts on long-term debt	8,491	11,169	5,986
Amortization and write-down of deferred financing costs	18,612	10,303	3,620
Acquired in-process research and development	109,200	89,245	59,354
Acquisition accounting adjustment on inventory sold	59,256	53,266
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	(10,986)
Allowances for losses on accounts receivable and inventories	5,519	6,887	8,674
Deferred income taxes	(222,959)	(55,403)	(16,000)
Non-cash cost of alliance revenue	30,686
Additions to accrued legal settlements	11,841	52,610	6,191
Payments of accrued legal settlements	(26,541)	(44,450)	(30,806)
Share-based compensation	94,023	98,033	5,613
Tax benefits from stock options exercised	(26,533)
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets and other charges	(21,316)	11,603	24,133
Payment of accreted interest on repurchase of convertible debt	(9,753)	(4,934)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	36,844	30,716
Other	4,147	(1,200)	(177)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(164,581)	25,187	(26,998)
Inventories	(11,521)	7,463	(33,582)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(3,084)	7,394	(796)
Accounts payable	(8,980)	(76,100)	30,771
Accrued liabilities	70,175	26,732	32,780
Income taxes payable	(15,497)	(9,723)	726
Deferred revenue	(3,631)	(2,817)	(13,106)
Net cash provided by operating activities	676,473	263,191	360,897
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(2,464,108)	308,982
Acquisitions of intangible assets	(327,437)	(84,532)	(761,829)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(58,515)	(16,823)	(7,423)
Proceeds from sale of assets		15,046	28,302
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities	86,639	7,965	1,078
Purchases of marketable securities	(81,087)		(3,823)
Other		(1,699)	923
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(2,844,508)	228,939	(742,772)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Issuance of long-term debt, net of discount	5,388,799	992,400	350,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(2,004,641)	(537,500)
Cash dividends paid		(356,291)	(147,146)
Repurchases of convertible debt	(613,471)	(254,316)
Repurchases of common shares	(639,242)	(60,130)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	41,738	58,425	866
Tax benefits from stock options exercised	26,533
Cash settlement of call options	(66,863)	(37,682)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(52,499)
Payment of employee withholding tax upon vesting of share-based awards	(59,718)	(14,485)
Payments of contingent consideration	(31,800)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(40,671)	(4,565)	(26,274)
Advances under credit facilities			130,000
Repayments under credit facilities			(130,000)
Other		861	(399)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,948,165	(213,283)	177,047
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(10,288)	959	1,744
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(230,158)	279,806	(203,084)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	394,269	114,463	317,547
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	164,111	394,269	114,463
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
Acquisition of Valeant, equity issued		(3,880,301)
Acquisition of Valeant, debt assumed		(2,913,614)
Acquisition of businesses, contingent consideration at fair value	(443,481)
Settlement of convertible debt, equity issued	(892,000)
Long-term debt related to acquisition of business			(26,768)
Cash dividends declared but unpaid			$ (14,246)