NON-CURRENT ASSETS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Non-current assets	$ 2,426	$ 2,616

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets except for property, plant and equipment that are expected to be realized in cash, sold or consumed after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

No definition available.

Name:	vvus_AssetsNoncurrentExcludingPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	vvus_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant