-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HoI2iWEdLq+oO4sLwGWT1oN0yD6yeDlyPfChs5Cco3MfVRTUZL3Kiy4c5Wv7GijP
 KuCdiz5EPSTi4p/6QcjSWQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-012959.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-012959.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218122103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-012959
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHAO ALLEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000938048

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13305
		FILM NUMBER:		031061659

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		STREET 2:		311 BONNIE CIRCLE DRIVE
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		STREET 2:		311 BONNIE CIRCLE DRIVE
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92880

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884629
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				953872914
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		311 BONNIE CIRCLE
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9092701400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		311 BONNIE CIRCLE
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92880
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884629</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WPI</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000938048</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAO ALLEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>311 BONNIE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CORONA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.0033</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.0033</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>959083</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>by Corporation</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.0033</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1418661</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>by Partnership</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.0033</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4718</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>by Son's Custodian</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $0.0033</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-15</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>32000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>976968</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>by Trust</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ALLEN CHAO</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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