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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-21</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001047699</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KING PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001354792</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Elrod James W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>501 FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRISTOL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37620</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>General Counsel and Corp. Sec.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.785</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-10-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock that was issued on February 21, 2006.  One hundred percent of such stock vests on February 21, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option was granted on March 4, 2005.  Fifty percent of it vests on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 50% vests on the second anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option was granted on October 18, 2005.  Thirty-three percent vests on each of June 1, 2006 and June 1, 2007.  The remaining 34% vests on June 1, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit List:
Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marianne Staniunas, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
