Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Warrants to acquire Common Stock	Retained Earnings	Other Comprehensive Loss
BALANCES AT at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 260,180	$ 239,235	$ 17,946	$ 15,366	$ (12,367)
BALANCES AT (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		96,569,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	13,884			13,884
Exercise of stock options	8,013	$ 8,013
Exercise of stock options (in Shares)		4,226,000
Employee stock purchase plan issuance	829	$ 829
Employee stock purchase plan issuance (in Shares)		73,000
Restricted stock units	1,188	$ 1,188
Restricted stock units (in Shares)		16,000
Stock-based compensation expense	6,564	$ 6,564
Foreign currency translation loss	(1,704)				(1,704)
Excess tax benefit - stock compensation	29,517	29,517
Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities	(1,124)				(1,124)
Convertible securities	30,789	$ 30,789
Convertible securities (in Shares)		3,659,000
Akorn AG pension liability adjustment	0
Exercise of warrants	8,171	$ 26,117	(17,946)
Exercise of warrants (in Shares)		7,192,000
BALANCES AT at Dec. 31, 2014	356,307	$ 342,252	0	29,250	(15,195)
BALANCES AT (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		111,735,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	150,798			150,798
Exercise of stock options	10,503	$ 10,503
Exercise of stock options (in Shares)		2,514,000
Employee stock purchase plan issuance	1,413	$ 1,413
Employee stock purchase plan issuance (in Shares)		66,000
Restricted stock units	3,814	$ 3,814
Restricted stock units (in Shares)		16,000
Stock-based compensation expense	9,183	$ 9,183
Foreign currency translation loss	(2,051)				(2,051)
Excess tax benefit - stock compensation	47,997	47,997
Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities	104				104
Convertible securities	43,497	$ 43,497
Convertible securities (in Shares)		5,096,000
Akorn AG pension liability adjustment	0
BALANCES AT at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 621,565	$ 458,659	0	180,048	(17,142)
BALANCES AT (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	119,427,471	119,427,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	$ 184,243			184,243
Common stock repurchases (in Shares)		(1,808,000)
Common stock repurchases	(45,000)			(45,000)
Exercise of stock options	13,953	$ 13,953
Exercise of stock options (in Shares)		1,792,000
Restricted stock units	4,091	$ 4,091
Restricted stock units (in Shares)		184,000
Stock-based compensation expense	11,321	$ 11,321
Foreign currency translation loss	(1,941)				(1,941)
Stock compensation plan withholdings for employee taxes	(4,158)	$ (4,158)
Stock compensation plan withholdings for employee taxes (in Shares)		(138,000)
Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities	740				740
Convertible securities	43,215	$ 43,215
Convertible securities (in Shares)		4,933,000
Akorn AG pension liability adjustment	(3,624)				(3,624)
Other	(5,221)	$ (5,221)
BALANCES AT at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 819,184	$ 521,860	$ 0	$ 319,291	$ (21,967)
BALANCES AT (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	124,390,217	124,390,000