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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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 aqxnHd2vKXAWWIy3U7MM1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721371-04-000145.txt : 20041112
<SEC-HEADER>0000721371-04-000145.hdr.sgml : 20041111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041112171336
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721371-04-000145
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHLOTTERBECK DAVID L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214967

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11373
		FILM NUMBER:		041140513

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10221 WATERIDGE CIRCLE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10221 WATERIDGE CIRCLE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

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>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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    <periodOfReport>2004-11-12</periodOfReport>

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        <issuerName>CARDINAL HEALTH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAH</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>SCHLOTTERBECK DAVID L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10221 WATERIDGE CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chmn &amp; CEO-Clncl Techn &amp; Svcs</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                </transactionShares>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>21369</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>53089</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <value>6.15</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-08-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>244621</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>1</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option granted pursuant to the Alaris Medical, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock option granted pursuant to the Cardinal Health, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David L. Schlotterbeck</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----