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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WTWdfb4VzO1m7VR1v5b1m5wkpQxitjRLdcBe/8XGAzHGOwth/ZcEfI7tg0lJt9U3
 dnbAkhR4dron1GchukKA0g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-018044.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-018044.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820151904
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-018044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GEMUNDER JOEL F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224637

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08269
		FILM NUMBER:		03858005

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OMNICARE INC
		STREET 2:		100 E RIVER CENTER BLVD 16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8593923317

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OMNICARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000353230
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES [5912]
		IRS NUMBER:				311001351
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 E RIVERCENTER BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 1600
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6063923300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 E RIVERCENTER BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 1600
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000353230</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OMNICARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE: OCR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224637</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GEMUNDER JOEL F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 E. RIVERCENTER BLVD., SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>41011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>105022</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1258616</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNatur
e><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>278164</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held as of 6/30/03 in Savings &amp; Investment Plan, ESOP and Excess Benefit Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 8,240 shares acquired in exempt transactions under the Omnicare Stock Plus Program (broad-based employee stock purchase/option plan).</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>JOEL F. GEMUNDER

/s/ Thomas Marsh, Attorney-in-fact for Joel F. Gemunder (POA on file)</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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