Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net product revenues	$ 13,355	$ 30,324	$ 27,200	$ 61,699
Royalty revenues	5,387	24,407	15,758	43,338
Total net revenues	18,742	54,731	42,958	105,037
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	16,282	15,230	29,835	34,027
Asset impairment charges	329,097	0	329,097	0
Research and development	33,072	37,567	71,499	71,058
Selling, general and administrative	49,600	94,158	112,782	173,456
Total operating expenses	428,051	146,955	543,213	278,541
Loss from operations	(409,309)	(92,224)	(500,255)	(173,504)
Co-promotion and license income	757	1,341	1,514	2,316
Gain on sale of assets	0	288,301	0	288,301
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(5,380)	0	(5,380)
Interest expense	(12,590)	(10,363)	(25,012)	(20,109)
Other income (loss)	854	138	845	(124)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(420,288)	181,813	(522,908)	91,500
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	23,020	(11)	22,970	(57)
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(397,268)	181,802	(499,938)	91,443
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	619	0	(1,486)
Net (loss) income	(397,268)	182,421	(499,938)	89,957
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	0	21	0	37
Net (loss) income attributable to The Medicines Company	(397,268)	182,442	(499,938)	89,994
Amounts attributable to The Medicines Company:
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(397,268)	181,823	(499,938)	91,480
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	619	0	(1,486)
Net (loss) income attributable to The Medicines Company	$ (397,268)	$ 182,442	$ (499,938)	$ 89,994
Basic (loss) earnings per common share attributable to The Medicines Company:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ (5.52)	$ 2.61	$ (6.99)	$ 1.32
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.01	0.00	(0.02)
Basic (loss) earnings per share (USD per share)	(5.52)	2.62	(6.99)	1.30
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share attributable to The Medicines Company:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (USD per share)	(5.52)	2.51	(6.99)	1.27
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.01	0.00	(0.02)
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (USD per share)	$ (5.52)	$ 2.52	$ (6.99)	$ 1.25
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	71,918	69,711	71,498	69,464
Diluted (shares)	71,918	72,509	71,498	72,312