-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ITQA1FTDPNpEC1VcSFsOhtpGPTdWMVSV6D3Yfvv1rXOmrraPPxj22VUSWdp9N6Dw
 hanTR6md/GTm34cXKarFDQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950145-08-000097.txt : 20080918
<SEC-HEADER>0000950145-08-000097.hdr.sgml : 20080918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080918172012
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950145-08-000097
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080917
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080918
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Jain Vivek
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001410442

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11373
		FILM NUMBER:		081078987

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		614-757-5000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CARDINAL HEALTH, INC.
		STREET 2:		7000 CARDINAL PLACE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43017

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>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721371</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARDINAL HEALTH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001410442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jain Vivek</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CARDINAL HEALTH, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7000 CARDINAL PLACE</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 - Corp. Dev. &amp; Strategy</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1385</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>51.41</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21536</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents withholding of shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations of reporting person in connection with the vesting of 4,333 restricted share units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects closing price on prior business day.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Vivek Jain</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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