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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Rn6gqpApPZuaAt3yrJgpxoCkz4c0BTx6WUiFM+tyuWrPky8Bl4TSSo/B/OYuFZAM
 uEUCo5Pch4FUW6GuAa2YCg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-10-003079.txt : 20100126
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-10-003079.hdr.sgml : 20100126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100126212623
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-10-003079
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100126
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100126

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILSON LELAND F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001008170

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33389
		FILM NUMBER:		10548936

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1172 CASTRO STREET
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94040

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VIVUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000881524
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943136179
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1172 CASTRO ST
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6509345265

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1172 CASTRO STREET
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94040
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000881524</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIVUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VVUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008170</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILSON LELAND F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1172 CASTRO STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNTAIN VIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94040</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One-fourth of the shares subject to the option vest on January 22, 2011 and one forty-eighth of the shares shall vest monthly thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Julie Hollenback, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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