Segment Information (Schedule of Financial Data for Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 segment	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business segments			2
Total revenues	$ 336,117	$ 267,321	$ 920,607	$ 791,186
Total gross margin	140,825	81,391	328,650	211,735
Total operating (loss) income	(32,875)	(24,725)	(84,557)	(23,615)
Interest income	2	14	16	70
Interest expense	(27,690)	(23,385)	(80,656)	(71,033)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	0	(3,989)	(7,335)
Other Income	500	0	500	0
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(22,425)	(18,797)	(64,762)	(36,077)
Net loss	(37,638)	(29,299)	(103,924)	(65,836)
Par Pharmaceutical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	318,784	249,818	871,425	737,733
Total gross margin	129,845	69,506	297,374	175,502
Total operating (loss) income	(29,846)	(18,352)	(61,409)	(19,169)
Strativa [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	17,333	17,503	49,182	53,453
Total gross margin	10,980	11,885	31,276	36,233
Total operating (loss) income	$ (3,029)	$ (6,373)	$ (23,148)	$ (4,446)