Segment Reporting (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	$ 12,025	$ 11,163	$ 23,454	$ 22,398
Sales	12,151	11,346	23,732	22,768
Pharmaceutical segment [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	10,360	9,638	20,179	19,303
All Other Segment [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	1,665	1,525	3,275	3,095
Other [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	126	183	278	370
Singulair [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	1,354	1,258	2,682	2,423
Remicade [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	842	669	1,595	1,343
Nasonex [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	323	338	696	658
Clarinex [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	209	191	364	355
Propecia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	112	113	218	213
Arcoxia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	100	95	214	190
Asmanex [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	47	56	107	107
Zetia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	592	564	1,174	1,098
Vytorin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	459	490	939	967
Integrilin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	56	70	120	140
Januvia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	779	600	1,518	1,111
Janumet [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	321	218	626	419
Isentress [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	337	267	629	499
PegIntron [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	154	185	319	371
Primaxin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	136	158	272	317
Cancidas [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	168	150	326	303
Avelox [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	61	59	167	165
Invanz [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	103	83	189	158
Rebetol [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	48	55	100	111
Crixivan/Stocrin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	50	48	95	100
Noxafil [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	56	50	110	99
Cozaar/Hyzaar [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	406	485	832	1,267
Claritin Rx [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	65	58	186	157
Zocor [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	107	117	234	233
Vasotec/Vaseretic [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	59	63	116	122
Other pharmaceutical [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	948	941	1,697	1,888
ProQuad/M-M-R II/Varivax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	291	340	535	659
Follistim AQ [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	143	137	276	270
Implanon [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	81	51	141	101
Pneumovax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	64	59	143	110
Zostavax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	122	18	146	114
RotaTeq [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	148	139	272	231
Remeron [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	57	59	117	110
Gardasil [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	277	219	490	451
NuvaRing [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	154	145	297	280
Proscar [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	53	56	113	114
Cerazette [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	66	49	125	104
Proventil [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	37	55	80	112
Maxalt [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	131	133	304	268
Cosopt/Trusopt [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	122	123	236	238
Temodar [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	234	271	481	545
Emend [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	120	93	207	177
Intron A [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	47	51	96	105
Simponi [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	75	18	129	28
Dulera [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	25		37
Fosamax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Segment revenues	$ 221	$ 241	$ 429	$ 472