Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue	$ 5,443.3	$ 6,147.9	$ 16,646.0	$ 18,239.9
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	1,874.7	1,502.5	4,395.7	4,307.7
Neuroscience [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	1,815.8	2,488.0	5,544.0	7,547.1
Endocrinology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	1,646.1	1,692.9	5,041.2	4,965.4
Oncology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	791.7	817.8	2,442.4	2,483.5
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	650.9	630.1	1,936.4	1,852.5
Animal health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	106.0	93.0	370.0	228.0
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	479.4	451.0	1,482.4	1,210.4
Other pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	59.4	68.1	199.6	181.0
Pharmaceutical products, total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue	$ 4,963.9	$ 5,696.9	$ 15,163.6	$ 17,029.5

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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