-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-000147.txt : 20090102
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-000147.hdr.sgml : 20090101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090102155116
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-000147
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Finn Leo P III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001334607

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08269
		FILM NUMBER:		09501589

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(859) 392-3300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 E. RIVERCENTER BLVD. #1600
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41011

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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000353230</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OMNICARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE: OCR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Finn Leo P III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 E. RIVERCENTER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>41011</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP - Strategic Planning &amp; Dev</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>299</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.24</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>104453</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13453</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares held as of 9/30/08 in Savings &amp; Investment Plan, ESOP and Excess Benefit Plan.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 2,468 shares in the dividend reinvestment account as of December 31, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>LEO P. FINN III

/s/ Thomas Marsh, attorney-in-fact for Leo P. Finn III (POA on file)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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