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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U5ABfRi7x+0RuPlNMTdJXUSmgYibp7vCd787ehBQeV2x++5WG7WYLRA9H/q6MaXA
 KD7zEe6yz1FZLWcWkAG80g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001089473-06-000037.txt : 20060616
<SEC-HEADER>0001089473-06-000037.hdr.sgml : 20060616
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060616182826
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001089473-06-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060614
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060616
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060616

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROSHY ERAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256230

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30318
		FILM NUMBER:		06911293

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7325374883

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VENTIV HEALTH
		STREET 2:		200 COTTONTAIL LN. VANTAGE COURT N.
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873

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
</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>2006-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256230</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROSHY ERAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INVENTIV HEALTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 COTTONTAIL LN. VANTAGE COURT N.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOMERSET</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08873</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>110000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.77</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>191574</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>180000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>180000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>703938</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person was granted 110,000 restricted shares on June 14, 2006.  50% of these shares will vest at the end of the second anniversary of the date of issuance and the remaining 50% of the shares will vest at the end of the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance provided the reporting person continues to provide services to the Company on such dates.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price of the securities represents the fair market value at the date of issuance.  No consideration has been, or will be, received from the reporting person as result of granting, or upon vesting, of these shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The 180,000 options issued to the reporting person on June 14, 2006 will vest and become exercisable in equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the date of issuance provided the reporting person continues to provide services to the Company on such dates.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The derivative securities beneficial ownership reported in column 9 includes all options held by the reporting person following the reported transactions irrespective of class.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Eran Broshy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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