Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011
Governmental Reimbursement Investigations and Drug Pricing Litigation [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total amount of the settlement for all of the settling defendants	$ 125,000,000
Number of cases filed by individual counties with which similar cases has been consolidated	41
Number of cases filed by additional counties with which similar cases has been consolidated	4
Number of cases pending in state courts	3
Ven-A-Care [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total amount to be paid under the terms of proposed settlement	79,000,000
Amount to be paid by Company under the terms of settlement	29,000,000
Liability reserve	129,900,000
Cipro Litigation [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Approximately cases filed against watson	42
Number of cases consolidated in the District Court	22
Number of group of plaintiffs from the consolidated action filing notices of appeal	3
Hormone Replacement Therapy Litigation [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Approximately number of cases pending against Company	90
Approximate number of plaintiffs	90
Fentanyl Transdermal System Litigation [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Approximately number of cases pending against Company	50
Approximate number of plaintiffs	131
Metoclopramide Litigation [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Approximately number of cases pending against Company	1,100
Approximate number of plaintiffs	3,730
Medical West Ballas Pharmacy [Member]
Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Minimum Statutory damages per violation	$ 500