Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

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Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

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Number of credit risk derivative instruments held.

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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measures (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measures
Number of outstanding derivative instruments containing credit risk contingent features \| item		0
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Derivatives in asset position		$ 70	$ 211
Derivatives in liability position		102	243
Shire plc
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Foreign exchange loss associated with forward contracts	$ 170		490
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts \| Shire plc
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Foreign exchange loss associated with forward contracts	$ 170		666
Designated As Hedging Instrument \| Interest Rate Swap \| Prepaid expenses and others
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Derivatives in asset position		9
Designated As Hedging Instrument \| Interest Rate Swap \| Other long-term liabilities
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Derivatives in liability position		81	180
Designated As Hedging Instrument \| Interest Rate Swap \| Fair Value Hedging
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Notional amount of derivative instruments		11,000	8,000
Designated As Hedging Instrument \| Foreign currency forward exchange contracts \| Prepaid expenses and others
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Derivatives in asset position		33	141
Designated As Hedging Instrument \| Foreign currency forward exchange contracts \| Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Notional amount of derivative instruments		$ 1,500	1,400
Approximate length of time over which accumulated gains and losses will be recognized in Cost of products sold		12 months
Nondesignated \| Foreign currency forward exchange contracts
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Notional amount of derivative instruments		$ 6,800	6,800
Nondesignated \| Foreign currency forward exchange contracts \| Prepaid expenses and others
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Derivatives in asset position		28	70
Nondesignated \| Foreign currency forward exchange contracts \| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Derivatives in liability position		$ 21	63
Nondesignated \| Foreign currency forward exchange contracts \| Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative instruments, notional amount and fair value
Notional amount of derivative instruments			$ 16,900