-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BsDsmS0N1cks+FMFC2tQaBZ5L50kquGMn+e47knGUY8LDfbClWQGYbPCiKrElOFn
 ggA+ZqGH56Xuoi4RriKgHw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-09-021098.txt : 20091029
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-09-021098.hdr.sgml : 20091029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091029123041
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-09-021098
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091027
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091029
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091029

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McDonough Mark E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001388793

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03305
		FILM NUMBER:		091143824

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MERCK & CO INC
		STREET 2:		ONE MERCK DRIVE PO BOX 100
		CITY:			WHITEHOUSE STATION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08889-0100

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCK & CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064978
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				221109110
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MERCK DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 100
		CITY:			WHITEHOUSE STATION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08889-0100
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9084231688

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MERCK DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 100 WS3AB-05
		CITY:			WHITEHOUSE STATION
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08889-0100
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-27</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064978</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCK &amp; CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001388793</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McDonough Mark E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MERCK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITEHOUSE STATION</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08889-0100</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3138.8608</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - 401(k) Plan</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2353.8946</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4625</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-10-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-10-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4625</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4625</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Holdings include shares acquired in dividend reinvestment transactions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares acquired and dividends earned through October 1, 2009 in the Merck &amp; Co., Inc. Employee Savings and Security Plan, a 401(k) plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Merck &amp; Co., Inc. common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Debra A. Bollwage as Attorney-in-Fact for Mark E. McDonough</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----