Reimbursement obligation on an collaborative arrangement.

No definition available.

Name:	irwd_CollaborativeArrangementReimbursementObligation
Namespace Prefix:	irwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The royalty percentages to be applied per license agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irwd_CollaborativeArrangementRoyaltiesPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	irwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount to be paid by the company upon completion of a milestone by the counterparty.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irwd_MilestonePaymentToBePaidByCompanyUponMilestoneAchievement
Namespace Prefix:	irwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period for reimbursement amount of development activities under the specific arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irwd_ReimbursementAmountForDevelopmentActivitiesPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	irwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The time period required for the transfer of manufacturing technology per the commercial supply agreement (CSA).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irwd_TimePeriodRequiredForManufacturingTechnologyTransfer
Namespace Prefix:	irwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84229725&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of liabilities incurred by the acquirer as part of consideration transferred in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6405-128476

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationDescriptionAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount recognized for assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=irwd_LesinuradTransactionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=irwd_AstraZenecaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=irwd_CommercialSupplyAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Business Combinations - General Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 02, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations
Payment for acquisition of lesinurad license					$ 100,000
Lesinurad transaction
Business Combinations
Payment for acquisition of lesinurad license	$ 100,000
Lesinurad transaction \| Scenario, Adjustment
Business Combinations
Net assets and liabilities			$ 0	$ 0
Lesinurad transaction \| AstraZeneca
Business Combinations
Payment for acquisition of lesinurad license	100,000
Contingent consideration	67,885
Acquisition related issuance costs		$ 1,600
Net assets and liabilities	167,885
Lesinurad transaction \| AstraZeneca \| Maximum
Business Combinations
Reimbursement obligation	$ 100,000
Licensing agreement \| AstraZeneca
Business Combinations
Reimbursement obligation						$ 2,000
Period for reimbursement amount of development activities (in years)	10 years		10 years
Royalty percentage per agreement				single digits
Milestone payment to be paid by company upon milestone achievement				$ 165,000
Licensing agreement \| AstraZeneca \| Maximum
Business Combinations
Reimbursement obligation			$ 100,000	$ 100,000
Commercial Supply Agreement (CSA) \| Lesinurad transaction \| AstraZeneca
Business Combinations
Time period for manufacturing technology transfer per agreement	6 months