Indebtedness (Details Textual) SFr in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2015 CHF (SFr)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 04, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2006 CHF (SFr)
Debt Instrument
Costs associated with the Senior Notes offerings			$ 52,000,000
Redemptions percentage of 2015 notes		100.00%
Redemption percentage for change in control provision on the 2015 Senior Notes		101.00%
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		$ 6,556,200,000
Senior unsecured revolving credit facility maximum borrowing capacity			$ 1,000,000,000
Term of credit facility			5 years
Amount outstanding under the credit facility		0
6.875% Senior Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument
Principal amount of senior notes							$ 550,000,000
Redemption percentage par value of senior notes							99.184%
Increased carrying amount of interest rate swap	$ 62,800,000
Interest to be amortized on debt		9,900,000
Note payable to Fumedica
Debt Instrument
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		3,000,000	$ 5,900,000					SFr 61.4
Par value of notes payable		$ 6,000,000	9,000,000	SFr 6.2	SFr 8.9
6.875% Senior Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument
Interest rate on senior notes		6.875%		6.875%			6.875%
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		$ 558,500,000	565,300,000
2.90% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Principal amount of senior notes			$ 1,500,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		2.90%	2.90%	2.90%	2.90%
Redemption percentage par value of senior notes			99.792%		99.792%
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		$ 1,485,300,000	$ 1,485,500,000
3.625% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument
Principal amount of senior notes			$ 1,000,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		3.625%	3.625%	3.625%	3.625%
Redemption percentage par value of senior notes			99.92%		99.92%
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		$ 993,200,000	$ 992,200,000
4.05% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt Instrument
Principal amount of senior notes			$ 1,750,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		4.05%	4.05%	4.05%	4.05%
Redemption percentage par value of senior notes			99.764%		99.764%
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		$ 1,734,800,000	$ 1,733,400,000
5.20% Senior Notes due 2045
Debt Instrument
Principal amount of senior notes			$ 1,750,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		5.20%	5.20%	5.20%	5.20%
Redemption percentage par value of senior notes			99.294%		99.294%
Notes payable and other financing arrangements		$ 1,721,500,000	$ 1,721,100,000
Interest rate swap | 2.90% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument
Fair value of the interest rate swaps			4,600,000
Eisai
Debt Instrument
Capital lease obligation		$ 18,100,000	$ 19,800,000			$ 20,300,000