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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MeqgnQngnJ9wGrZ9lZNUPz99vdIkYrBB8e/wlLeMXKwOPieJsx1v1TbRCG8QsaIv
 Zpzg51MVsdKym2+e/OzH8g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001089473-07-000068.txt : 20070831
<SEC-HEADER>0001089473-07-000068.hdr.sgml : 20070831
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070831091916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001089473-07-000068
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070829
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070831
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070831

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INVENTIV HEALTH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089473
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES [8742]
		IRS NUMBER:				522181734
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COTTONTAIL LANE
		STREET 2:		VANTAGE COURT NORTH
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873
		BUSINESS PHONE:		732-537-4800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 COTTONTAIL LANE
		STREET 2:		VANTAGE COURT NORTH
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VENTIV HEALTH INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990810

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SNYDER HEALTHCARE SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990624

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARRIS JOHN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079144

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30318
		FILM NUMBER:		071093080

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16301 QUORUM DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200B
		CITY:			ADDISON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9726920505

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2201 CEDEAR SPRINGS RD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 701
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089473</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INVENTIV HEALTH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079144</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRIS JOHN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O APPLIED GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 WEST 33RD STREET, 11TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John R. Harris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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