<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874265</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEIGHBORCARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NCRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220405</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FISH ROBERT H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NEIGHBORCARE, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 EAST LEE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>282673</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.13</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>282673</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>546960</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options were subject to various vesting milestones and became exercisable on different dates, as disclosed in a previously filed Form 4.  All of the options were exercisable as of the transaction date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options were canceled by mutual agreement of the reporting person and NeighborCare, Inc. The reporting person received $2,580,108 as consideration for the cancellation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This consists of 147,797 options to buy common stock at an exercise price of $10,86; 391,337 options to buy common stock at an exercise price of $12.99 (352,203 of which are options granted on February 28, 2003 in connection with the reporting person's service as CEO and Chairman of the Company, and 39,134 of which are options granted in connection with the reporting person's service as a director of the Company); 3,913 options to buy common stock at an exercise price of $10.73 (granted in connection with the reporting person's service as a director of the Company); and 3,913 options to buy common stock at an exercise price of $15.47 (also director options).</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John F. Gaither, Jr. on behalf of Robert H. Fish by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

