-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Cn9TEDTfGc5f0s246DBbTWUucbZt1ErErW13QLe7WMu0liWNMkMk8VsCNxxuwKfq
 /aQjXeSk5oFwV6oH0+YUwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721371-03-000055.txt : 20031119
<SEC-HEADER>0000721371-03-000055.hdr.sgml : 20031119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031119103035
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721371-03-000055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILLIAMS PAUL S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236458

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11373
		FILM NUMBER:		031011823

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CARDINAL HEALTH INC
		STREET 2:		7000 CARDINAL PLACE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43235

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARDINAL HEALTH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000721371
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DRUGS PROPRIETARIES & DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES [5122]
		IRS NUMBER:				310958666
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 CARDINAL PLACE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6147573033

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 CARDINAL PLACE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43017

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CARDINAL DISTRIBUTION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721371</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARDINAL HEALTH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236458</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILLIAMS PAUL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7000 CARDINAL PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DUBLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP, CLO &amp; Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3436</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1201</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By ESPP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHold
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ciseDate><value>2001-08-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-08-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>47.333</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-03-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-03-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares
><value>9834</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>31.167</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-11-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-11-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25668</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndi
rectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>66.083</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>18938</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F
1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>65.06</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-04-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7685</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>68.10</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><unde
rlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35242</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>67.90</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-11-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-11-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>37219</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value
>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>67.90</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-11-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7443</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivati
veHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>61.38</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-11-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50505</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTra
nsaction><value>1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock option granted pursuant to the Cardinal Health, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Stock option granted without payment by grantee.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul S. Williams</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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