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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000772197</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IVAX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IVX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000898860</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FROST PHILLIP MD ET AL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4400 BISCAYNE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33137</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Put Options (Obligation to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>175</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-01-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Frost Nevada Investments Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Put Options (Obligation to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>293.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-01-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Frost Nevada Investments Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These assets are held by Frost-Nevada Investments Trust, of which the reporting person is the trustee and Frost-Nevada Limited Partnership is the sole and exclusive beneficiary. The reporting person is one of four limited partners of Frost-Nevada Limited Partnership and the sole shareholder of Frost-Nevada Corporation, the sole general partner of Frost-Nevada, L.P.. During April 2002 Frost Beta, L.P. became a limited partner of Frost-Nevada L.P.. The reporting person is the sole shareholder of Frost Beta, Inc., the sole general partner of Frost Beta, L.P.. Frost Alpha Charitable Remainder Trust is the only limited partner of Frost Beta, L.P.. Frost Alpha, L.P. is a beneficiary of Frost Alpha Charitable Remainder Trust. Frost-Nevada Corporation is the sole member of Frost Alpha LLC, which is the sole general partner of Frost Alpha, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person and the Frost 2001 Charitable Lead Annuity Trust are the sole limited partners of Frost Alpha L.P.. On January 31, 2003 the Frost Alpha 2003 Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (CLAT Jan 03) became a limited partner of Frost-Nevada Limited Partnership. On December 31 2003 the Frost Alpha December 2003 Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (CLAT Dec 03) became a limited partner of Frost-Nevada Limited Partnership. Frost Alpha, L.P. has a remainder interest in CLAT Jan 03 and CLAT Dec 03.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person is not the trustee of the charitable trusts described above, but continues to report beneficial ownership of all securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Phillip Frost, M.D.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

