-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ABR0Zp2lsxgaV1tA4i/PMqyH61BzCNZ6sFEwx1glFakZLTkCm9l64U8u9dT318lx
 A70ldGKDL4EaRWQLshQOBQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246360-06-001898.txt : 20060720
<SEC-HEADER>0001246360-06-001898.hdr.sgml : 20060720
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060720112835
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246360-06-001898
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060710
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060720
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060720

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000859368
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				521574808
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125992000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Cooper Joseph Patrick
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001368711

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14471
		FILM NUMBER:		06970940

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		602-808-8800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258-2463
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-10</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859368</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368711</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cooper Joseph Patrick</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8125 N. HAYDEN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85258</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP,Corp &amp; Product Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31200</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>63000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-03-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>63000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-07-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>63000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.41</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 4,000 shares received from a restricted stock lapse that occurred on 3/1/06. Includes 16,000 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 3/1/03- Remaining vesting of 30% on 3/1/07 and 50% on 3/1/08. Includes 5,700 shares of Restricted Stock Grant vesting over 5 years on grant date beginning 7/21/2006- 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5. Includes 5,500 shares Restricted Stock Grant Vesting over 5 years on grant date beginning 2/7/2007- 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">NQ Employee Stock Option vesting over 5 years on grant date beginning 7/16/2005. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 3/1/03. Vesting 50% on 3/1/07 and 50% on 3/1/08.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">NQ Employee Stock Option vesting over 5 years on grant date beginning 7/31/2004. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">NQ Employee Stock Option vesting over 5 years on grant date beginning 7/21/2006.  10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph Cooper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----