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Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 Case	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) Claim Case	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Legal Defense Costs
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Legal defense costs reserve | $		$ 255	$ 250
Zetia antitrust litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim		35
Patents [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Claims Settled, Number		10
Fosamax
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters)		3,485
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | Federal
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters)		970
Loss contingency, claims dismissed, number (in legal matters)	650
Loss contingency, claims on appeal, number (in legal matters)	515
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | New Jersey state court
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters)		2,235
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | California state court
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters)		275
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | Other state courts
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters)		5
Januvia
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim		1,490
Januvia | Other state courts
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim		6
Januvia | Cases Company Agreed To Toll Statute Of Limitations
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim		50

X

- Definition

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+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

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Number of claims settled.

+ References

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- Definition

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
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