2.4.0.82410403 - Disclosure - Convertible Senior Notes (Liability Component) (Details)truefalsefalse1false USDfalsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001113481duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$2false USDfalsefalse$I2012Q4http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001113481instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 1us-gaap_DebtDisclosureAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Debt Disclosure [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse275000000275000000USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse275000000275000000USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFace (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400 false2Principal3false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedTerseLabel1truefalsefalse-43975000-43975000[1]falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-48891000-48891000[1]falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400 false2Less: Debt discount, net4false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmountus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse231025000231025000falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse226109000226109000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 true2Net carrying amount5false 2us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValueus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse242700000242700000USD$falsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.No definition available.false2Fair value of Notes6false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleRemainingDiscountAmortizationPeriod1us-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse003 years 10 months 24 daysfalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:durationItemTypenaRemaining amortization period for discount on the liability component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870 false0Remaining contractual life1Included in the consolidated balance sheets within convertible senior notes (due 2017) and amortized to interest expense over the remaining life of the Notes using the effective interest rate method.falseConvertible Senior Notes (Liability Component) (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseNoteshttp://www.themedicinescompany.com/role/ConvertibleSeniorNotesLiabilityComponentDetails26