Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 18, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32360
Entity Registrant Name	AKORN, INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	LA
Entity Tax Identification Number	72-0717400
Entity Address, Address Line One	1925 W. Field Court
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 300
Entity Address, City or Town	Lake Forest
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60045
City Area Code	847
Local Phone Number	279-6100
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, No Par Value
Trading Symbol	AKRX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 497.2
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		126,246,012
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0000003116
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or an amendment to this Form 10-K, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this Form 10-K relates.