Earnings (Loss) Per Share Data (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Weighted Average Stock Price to include additional shares in diluted share calculation [Table Text Block]

The Company is required to include additional shares in its diluted shares outstanding calculation based on the treasury stock method when the average Omnicare stock market price for the applicable period exceeds the following amounts:

Convertible Debt	Price
3.75% convertible senior subordinated notes, due 2025	$	27.11
4.00% junior subordinated convertible debentures, due 2033	$	40.82
3.25% convertible senior debentures, due 2035	$	78.74
3.75% convertible senior subordinated notes, due 2042	$	41.50
3.50% convertible senior subordinated notes, due 2044	$	70.00

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

The following is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) computations for both the numerator and denominator (in thousands, except per share data):

	Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
2013:	Income (loss) (Numerator)			Common Shares(Denominator)	Per Common Share Amounts			Income (Numerator)		Common Shares(Denominator)	Per Common Share Amounts
Basic EPS
Net income (loss)	$	(66,309	)	101,811	$	(0.65	)	$	40,264	102,624	$	0.39
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Convertible securities	—			—				212		6,360
Stock options, units and awards	—			—				—		628
Diluted EPS
Net income (loss) plus assumed conversions	$	(66,309	)	101,811	$	(0.65	)	$	40,476	109,612	$	0.37
2012:
Basic EPS
Net income	$	61,425		109,315	$	0.56		$	135,856	110,457	$	1.23
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Convertible securities	71			2,107				213		2,912
Stock options, warrants, units and awards	—			529				—		599
Diluted EPS
Net income plus assumed conversions	$	61,496		111,951	$	0.55		$	136,069	113,968	$	1.19