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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 56Z69ca2hU6+/tywhb+NLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001224343-03-000004.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001224343-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216161416
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001224343-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAFFORD RAYMOND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224343

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05438
		FILM NUMBER:		031057639

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FOREST LABORATORIES
		STREET 2:		909 3RD AVE.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOREST LABORATORIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000038074
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				111798614
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		909 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124217850

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		909 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001224343d20031216f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000038074</issuerCik><issuerName>FOREST LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>FRX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001224343</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>STAFFORD RAYMOND</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FOREST LABORATORIES</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>909 THIRD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP-Global Marketing</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationshi
p></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-12-12</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><valu
e>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Becomes exercisable as to 15% of the shares covered on each of the first four anniversaries of 12/12/02 and becomes exercisable as to the balance on the fifth anniversary.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The reporting person beneficially owns 608,040 shares which includes options to purchase 377,000 shares.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Raymond  Stafford</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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