v3.8.0.1

Note 5 - U.S. Department of Defense Contract (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 09, 2017 | Mar. 02, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Feb. 28, 2018 | May 11, 2015
Government Contract Receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 17,000
Contracts Revenue |  |  | $ 852 | $ 10,917 | $ 4,406 |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | Amendment to DoD Contract Incorporate Additional Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Government Contract Receivable |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500 |
Government [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Award Contract Renewal Term | 330 days | 120 days |  |  |  |  |
Government [Member] | Contract and Other Revenue [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contracts Revenue |  |  | $ 900 | $ 10,900 | $ 4,400 |  |

X
- Definition Term of the award contract renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | acrx_AwardContractRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix: | acrx_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue earned from products sold or services provided under the terms of a contract, including, but not limited to, government contracts and construction contracts, classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractsRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of receivables that are derived from government contracts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 912 -SubTopic 310 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68054760&loc=d3e55295-109406 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GovernmentContractReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=acrx_AmendmentToDoDContractIncorporateAdditionalServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByLegalEntityOfCounterpartyTypeAxis=us-gaap_GovernmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=acrx_ContractAndOtherRevenueMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |