-----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,
 DTDVKEq0fdhPtlKT2rI4uGRj6AuolWtaf2bU+nf1wFU8sKUuvmJYir0VBY7bSrmP
 D9Wb4+h/ltucAWgxDDfvDg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000885721-05-000085.txt : 20050303
<SEC-HEADER>0000885721-05-000085.hdr.sgml : 20050303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050303165557
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000885721-05-000085
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXPRESS SCRIPTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000885721
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES [5912]
		IRS NUMBER:				431420563
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13900 REIVERPORT DRIVE
		CITY:			MARYLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147701666

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13900 REIVERPORT DRIVE
		CITY:			MARYLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63043

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TENHOLDER EDWARD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235687

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20199
		FILM NUMBER:		05658566

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EXPRESS SCRIPTS INC
		STREET 2:		13900 RIVERPORT DRIVE
		CITY:			MARYLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63043
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4-030105_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000885721</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXPRESS SCRIPTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235687</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TENHOLDER EDWARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EXPRESS SCRIPTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>13900 RIVERPORT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MARYLAND HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Admin. Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1513</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>77.28</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26987</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Express Scripts, Inc. Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares tendered to Express Scripts, Inc. to cover Mr. Tenholder's tax liability due upon lapse of restrictions of
restricted stock previously awarded under Express Scripts, Inc. 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward J. Tenholder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----