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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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950145-08-000103.txt : 20080930
<SEC-HEADER>0000950145-08-000103.hdr.sgml : 20080930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080930162512
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950145-08-000103
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080926
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080930
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080930

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Morford Craig S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001434592

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11373
		FILM NUMBER:		081097511

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6147577000

	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>2008-09-26</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001434592</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Morford Craig 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>Chief Compliance Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8026</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15440</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) Restricted Share Units award granted under the Cardinal Health, Inc., 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, with an effective date of October 15, 2008. Award granted without payment by grantee, in connection with a plan to separate the Clinical and Medical Products businesses by means of a spin-off of those businesses to its shareholders (the &quot;Spin-Off&quot;), and would vest on the earliest of (a) the Spin-Off, (b) determination by the Board not to proceed with the Spin-Off, or (c) October 15, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Craig S. Morford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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