FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details 2) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009 security	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquired IPR&D	Dec. 31, 2010 Acquired IPR&D	Dec. 31, 2011 Aton Pharma, Inc. ("Aton") Acquired IPR&D	Dec. 31, 2011 Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel ("IDP-111")	Dec. 31, 2011 Fluorouracil cream ("5-FU")	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-recurring basis	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-recurring basis Warsaw, Poland	Dec. 31, 2011 Recurring basis Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	Dec. 31, 2010 Recurring basis Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs
Investment in auction rate securities					$ 26,800,000
Number of auction rate securities					9
Fair value of investment in auction rate securities					6,000,000
Amount received on settlement of auction rate securities		22,000,000
Cash proceeds on disposal of auction rate securities	1,400,000
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
Assets held for sale			72,239,000	4,014,000							3,100,000
Impairment charges on intangible assets						105,200,000			7,900,000	19,800,000
Adjusted carrying value of intangible assets			7,126,446,000	4,972,824,000					54,400,000	14,800,000
Adjusted carrying value of IPR&D						531,352,000	1,399,956,000	12,600,000
Impairment charges on property held for sale												600,000
Reconciliation of contingent consideration obligations and the auction rate securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs
Balance, beginning of year													(20,220,000)	6,009,000
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss), arising during year													11,817,000	(5,163,000)
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss), reclassification from other comprehensive income														(389,000)
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, arising during year														554,000
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income, reclassification to net income (loss)														389,000
Proceeds on disposal														(1,400,000)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration payments			31,800,000										31,800,000
Acquisition-related contingent consideration issuances													(443,481,000)	(20,220,000)
Balance, end of year													(420,084,000)	(20,220,000)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration			10,986,000										11,000,000
Foreign exchange and other			$ 26,551,000	$ 574,000	$ 507,000								$ 800,000