<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-01-10</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000883813</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHRONIMED INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>CHMD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001193136</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZAPPA ANTHONY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-01-10</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1237</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>4.24</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12237</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares awarded under Employee Stock Purchase Plan on January 10, 2003; event incorrectly reported as a purchase of [1,237] shares on a Form 4 dated January 10, 2003</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Anthony J. Zappa</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

