Exhibit 5


May 1, 2002



K-V Pharmaceutical Company
2503 South Hanley Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63144


Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
    ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by K-V
Pharmaceutical Company (the "Company") on May 1, 2002 (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pertaining to the proposed issuance
by the Company of up to 750,000 shares of the Company's Class A common
stock, $0.01 par value (the "Shares"), in connection with the Company's
2002 Consultants Plan (the "Plan"), all as provided in the Registration
Statement. In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined such
corporate records of the Company, such laws and such other information as we
have deemed relevant, including the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws, each as amended and currently in effect, the resolutions adopted
by the Company's Board of Directors relating to the transaction,
certificates received from state officials and statements we have received
from officers and representatives of the Company. In delivering this
opinion, the undersigned assumed the genuineness of all signatures; the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; the conformity
to the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic
or conformed copies; the authenticity of the originals of all such latter
documents; and the correctness of statements submitted to us by officers and
representatives of the Company.

         Based only on the foregoing, the undersigned is of the opinion that
the Shares to be issued by the Company, when issued as provided by the Plan,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm in the section of
the Registration Statement entitled "Legal Matters."

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    /s/ Thompson Coburn LLP