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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,
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 RPp0fqxObLJA7Ago2EObrQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016776.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016776.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812185956
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016776
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KEEFE PATRICK E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224640

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08269
		FILM NUMBER:		03838783

	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>
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        <issuerName>OMNICARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE: OCR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224640</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KEEFE PATRICK E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 E. RIVERCENTER BLVD., SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>41011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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<derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.56</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>75000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSec
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Id id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26250</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>78750</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Company Plan:  25% becomes exercisable on each anniversary date until fully exercisable on 7/1/2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Company Plan:  25% becomes exercisable on each anniversary date until fully exercisable on 5/15/2004.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Company Plan:  25% becomes exercisable on each anniversary date until fully exercisable on 11/7/2005.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName
>PATRICK E. KEEFE

/s/ Thomas Marsh, Attorney-in-fact for Patrick E. Keefe (POA on file)</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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