Note 2 - Investments and Fair Value Measurement (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross, Unrealized Gain (Loss) Accumulated In Investments	$ 0	$ 0
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss), Total	0	0
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Available-for-sale Securities, Total	0	0
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Realized Gain (Loss), Total	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Transfers from Held-to-maturity to Available-for-Sale Securities, Net of Tax	$ 0	$ 0

Net amount of the difference between the fair value and cost of investments in available for sale securities.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	acrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118939692&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments, of unrealized holding gain (loss) related to transfers of securities into the available-for-sale classification and out of the held-to-maturity classification.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (c),(d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118985780&loc=d3e24820-111560

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e689-108580

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e637-108580

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount by which the fair value of an investment in debt and equity securities categorized as Available-for-sale is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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