Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Net product revenues	$ 549,749	$ 493,358	$ 466,111
Royalty revenues	29,481	17,186	17,492
License revenue	9,057	9,057	9,057
Total net revenues	588,287	519,601	492,660
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	135,080	107,475	92,297
Cost of milestone and license revenue	634	634	634
Research and development	166,105	203,437	149,209
Selling, general and administrative	181,619	235,437	205,630
Asset impairment	296,763
Changes in fair value of acquired contingent consideration	40,900	8,600	10,900
Total operating expenses	821,101	555,583	458,670
Operating (loss) income	(232,814)	(35,982)	33,990
Other expense (net):
Interest and amortization of debt discount expense	(18,664)	(16,527)	(15,472)
Interest income	136	339	440
Other (expense) income	(543)	9,902	411
Total other expense (net)	(19,071)	(6,286)	(14,621)
(Loss) income before taxes	(251,885)	(42,268)	19,369
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	28,526	6,665	(8,311)
Net (loss) income	(223,359)	(35,603)	11,058
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		985
Net (loss) income attributable to Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.	$ (223,359)	$ (34,618)	$ 11,058
Net (loss) income per share—basic	$ (4.86)	$ (0.76)	$ 0.26
Net (loss) income per share—diluted	$ (4.86)	$ (0.76)	$ 0.25
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing net (loss) income per share—basic	45,999	45,259	42,230
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing net (loss) income per share—diluted	45,999	45,259	43,621