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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E9wWg75hdZWLQ7rDoflKYILPjq9s6zz1i+t9Nt2v5PZzZnA/d8oN1jFXKdCh0udQ
 zdYBD2OXkZ81viy44mcBOQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001303422-07-000005.txt : 20070814
<SEC-HEADER>0001303422-07-000005.hdr.sgml : 20070814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070814164847
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001303422-07-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070814
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070814

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHARMACYCLICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000949699
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943148201
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHARMACYCLICS INC
		STREET 2:		995 E ARQUES AVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085-4521
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408 774 0330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHARMACYCLICS INC
		STREET 2:		995 E ARQUES AVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085-4521

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DUGGAN ROBERT W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001055919

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26658
		FILM NUMBER:		071056143

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8059623755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1933 CLIFF DRIVE #30
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93107
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949699</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHARMACYCLICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pcyc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055919</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUGGAN ROBERT W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1933 CLIFF DRIVE #30</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA BARBARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93107</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Holding</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3907956</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>508082</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Managed Accounts</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.18</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>528982</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Managed Accounts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of the Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Duggan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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