Segment Reporting (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues for segments
Sales	$ 12,022	$ 11,125	$ 35,753	$ 33,893
Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	11,913	10,976	35,367	33,374
Pharmaceutical segment [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	10,354	9,523	30,534	28,826
All Other Segment [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	1,559	1,453	4,833	4,548
Other [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	109	149	386	519
Singulair [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	1,336	1,215	4,018	3,638
Remicade [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	561	661	2,156	2,004
Nasonex [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	266	259	962	917
Clarinex [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	128	131	492	486
Propecia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	112	109	330	322
Arcoxia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	108	94	321	284
Asmanex [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	42	48	149	155
Zetia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	614	571	1,788	1,668
Vytorin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	469	485	1,407	1,452
Integrilin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	53	63	172	203
Januvia [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	846	600	2,364	1,710
Janumet [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	350	247	977	666
Isentress [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	343	278	972	777
PegIntron [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	163	168	482	539
Primaxin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	124	135	397	452
Cancidas [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	150	135	476	437
Avelox [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	59	59	227	224
Invanz [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	107	91	296	249
Rebetol [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	38	55	138	166
Crixivan/Stocrin [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	56	49	151	148
Noxafil [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	61	52	171	150
Cozaar/Hyzaar [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	404	423	1,236	1,690
Claritin Rx [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	55	53	240	210
Zocor [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	110	114	345	347
Vasotec/Vaseretic [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	57	69	173	191
Other pharmaceutical [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	888	942	2,567	2,834
ProQuad/M-M-R II/Varivax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	391	434	927	1,093
Follistim AQ [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	129	119	404	389
Implanon [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	80	64	220	165
Pneumovax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	133	110	276	220
Zostavax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	108	23	254	136
RotaTeq [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	184	119	457	350
Remeron [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	65	50	181	160
Gardasil [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	445	316	935	768
NuvaRing [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	159	134	455	414
Proscar [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	58	58	171	172
Cerazette [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	74	56	199	160
Proventil [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	38	43	117	155
Maxalt [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	156	133	460	401
Cosopt/Trusopt [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	124	114	360	353
Temodar [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	223	254	704	799
Emend [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	98	91	305	268
Intron A [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	47	50	143	155
Simponi [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	74	27	203	55
Dulera [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	22	2	59	2
Fosamax [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	215	220	644	692
Victrelis [Member]
Revenues for segments
Sales	$ 31		$ 53