Background and Basis of Presentation (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2013	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) customer	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Background and Basis of Presentation
Number of wholesalers | customer				3
Separation-related expenses		$ 95	$ 110	$ 199	$ 190
Operations and assets (net of liabilities) on which legal transfer of did not occur with the separation of the entity
Debt issuance costs classified as a reduction to long-term debt and lease obligations				$ 93
Recent Accounting Prounouncements
Operations and assets (net of liabilities) on which legal transfer of did not occur with the separation of the entity
Debt issuance costs classified as a reduction to long-term debt and lease obligations		$ 122
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Operations and assets (net of liabilities) on which legal transfer of did not occur with the separation of the entity
Deferred financing costs						$ 7
Other long-term assets
Operations and assets (net of liabilities) on which legal transfer of did not occur with the separation of the entity
Deferred financing costs						$ 27
AbbVie sponsored plans
Background and Basis of Presentation
Percentage of outstanding common stock distributed to Abbott Laboratories' shareholders	100.00%