Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationFairMarketValueStepUpAdjustmentToInventories
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Represents the period of amortization of inventory adjustments.

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationInventoryAdjustmentAmortizationPeriod
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the amount of fair value adjustments associated with acquisition-related inventory step-up and amortization of intangible assets recorded during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationInventoryStepUpAdjustmentsAndAmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

" Amount of liabilities incurred for accrued liabilities and goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and related party payables, assumed at the acquisition date."

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Represents the information pertaining to business combination recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed short term investments.

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedShortTermInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	abbv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Represents the amount of compensation expense related to the shares issued under business acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationShareBasedCompensationExpenseRelatedToAcquisition
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Represents the amount of acquisition-related transaction and integration costs recorded during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	abbv_BusinessCombinationTransactionAndIntegrationCostsRelatedToAcquisition
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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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.

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=34752592&loc=d3e1043-128460

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, acquired at the acquisition date. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Period Type:	instant

Amount of other assets expected to be realized or consumed before one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

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Period Type:	instant

Amount due from customers or clients for goods or services, including trade receivables, that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, and amounts due from others, including related parties expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

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Period Type:	instant

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary difference due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

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Period Type:	instant

Amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, acquired at the acquisition date.

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

- References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of inventory recognized as of the acquisition date.

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=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

Reference 2: 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=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of liabilities due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

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

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

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

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

No definition available.

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

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
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Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=abbv_PharmacyclicsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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