<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-26</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-05-26</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001145404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CRITICAL THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001291884</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MedImmune Ventures, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MEDIMMUNE WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GAITHERSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20878</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2857142</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10714286</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 3/A is being filed to report shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock listed in Table II.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Form 3 filed on May 26 2004 reported Common Stock underlying the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock owned as of the effectiveness of the Issuer's initial public offering.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shares as reported were convertible at any time into common stock on a 1-for-1 basis, but reported numbers do not reflect a 1-for-3.75 reverse stock split effective upon the closing of the issuer's initial public offering, pursuant to which each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 1/3.75 of a share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Immediately.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William C. Bertrand, Jr. on behalf of MedImmune Ventures, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

