-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KP6o5LtR2vGNwaC8gdjXm4p+VNR3meLgxtnVQiVzJ4aKIG8JPQWXIACO/zso18Zf
 6n4fx3vgANZTysRHHkurQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-004966.txt : 20090313
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-004966.hdr.sgml : 20090313
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090313163304
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-004966
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090311
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090313
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090313

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EBERT CHARLES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241752

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13305
		FILM NUMBER:		09680517

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		STREET 2:		311 BONNIE CIRCLE
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9094935300

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>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884629</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WPI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EBERT CHARLES D</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, Research &amp; Development</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.0033</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>616</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21672</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares of restricted stock issued pursuant to the Second Amendment and Restatement of the 2001 Incentive Award Plan of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/CHARLES D. EBERT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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