-----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,
 CsX/Ak/Spxystr+U20MKtYrN71PZYxMtqp8tJCq0ZlX4PjieSyEMGgvnteYpPpSc
 tk4fikAhijBCx40ZBJKIww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-023088.txt : 20041213
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-023088.hdr.sgml : 20041213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041213161650
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-023088
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GIBBONS DAVID T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219837

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19725
		FILM NUMBER:		041199005

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PERRIGO CO
		STREET 2:		515 EASTERN AVE
		CITY:			ALLEGAN
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERRIGO CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000820096
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				382799573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 EASTERN AVENUE
		CITY:			ALLEGAN
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6166738451

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		515 EASTERN AVENUE
		CITY:			ALLEGAN
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49010
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820096</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PERRIGO CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRGO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219837</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GIBBONS DAVID T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PERRIGO COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>515 EASTERN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALLEGAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chair of Bd, Pres., &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.354</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>125885</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David T. Gibbons</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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