INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Y	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel ("IDP-111")	Dec. 31, 2011 Fluorouracil cream ("5-FU")	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquired IPR&D Y	Dec. 31, 2011 Acquired IPR&D	Dec. 31, 2010 Acquired IPR&D	Dec. 31, 2011 Product brands Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Product brands	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate brands Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Corporate brands	Dec. 31, 2011 Product rights Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Product rights	Dec. 31, 2011 Partner relationships Y	Dec. 31, 2011 Out-licensed technology and other Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Out-licensed technology and other
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Weighted-Average Useful Lives (in years)	13							13		19		8		7	8
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 8,236,436,000	$ 5,677,083,000						$ 6,442,371,000	$ 4,227,465,000	$ 181,349,000	$ 169,675,000	$ 1,302,748,000	$ 1,074,611,000	$ 135,095,000	$ 174,873,000	$ 205,332,000
Accumulated Amortization	(1,109,990,000)	(704,259,000)						(737,876,000)	(404,951,000)	(10,630,000)	(2,191,000)	(306,936,000)	(279,275,000)	(15,633,000)	(38,915,000)	(17,842,000)
Net Carrying Amount	7,126,446,000	4,972,824,000	54,400,000	14,800,000				5,704,495,000	3,822,514,000	170,719,000	167,484,000	995,812,000	795,336,000	119,462,000	135,958,000	187,490,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Carrying Amount					531,352,000	531,352,000	1,399,956,000
Total intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount	8,767,788,000	7,077,039,000
Net Carrying Amount	7,657,798,000	6,372,780,000
Impairment charges			7,900,000	19,800,000		105,200,000
Reclassification to finite-lived product brand intangible assets					$ 797,700,000
Estimated useful life of reclassified finite-lived product brand intangible assets (in years)					7