Other Deductions - Net (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Apr. 01, 2012
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Insurance recoveries	$ 80
Product litigation, hormone replacement therapy	(83)	[1]	814	[1]
Intangible asset impairments	395		395
In Process Research And Development [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments	394	[2]	297
Consumer Healthcare [Member] | Robitussin [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments			45
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments	394		53
Celebrex [Member] | Brigham Young University [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Product litigation, hormone replacement therapy			450
Zoetis [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments	1
Worldwide Research and Development [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments			45
Specialty Care [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments	394		316
Oncology [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairments			$ 34
IPO [Member] | Zoetis [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interests owned by public stockholders	19.80%
Hisun Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd [Member] | Pfizer [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	49.00%

[1] In the first quarter of 2013, primarily includes an $80 million insurance recovery related to a certain litigation matter. In the first quarter of 2012, primarily relates to a $450 million charge in connection with an agreement-in-principle to settle a lawsuit by Brigham Young University related to Celebrex (which was ultimately settled for that amount), and charges for hormone-replacement therapy litigation. For additional information, see Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies.

[2] Reflects an intangible asset written down to its fair value of $564 million in the first quarter of 2013. Fair value was determined using the income approach, specifically the multi-period excess earnings method, also known as the discounted cash flow method. We started with a forecast of all the expected net cash flows associated with the asset and then we applied an asset-specific discount rate to arrive at a net present value amount. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions inherent in this approach include: the amount and timing of the projected net cash flows, which includes the expected impact of competitive, legal and/or regulatory forces on the product; the discount rate, which seeks to reflect the various risks inherent in the projected cash flows; and the tax rate, which seeks to incorporate the geographic diversity of the projected cash flows.