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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): April 20, 2005

                       MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

           Delaware                        0-18443                52-1574808
(State or Other Jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
        Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

8125 North Hayden Road
Scottsdale, Arizona                                                   85258-2463
(Address of Principal Executive                                       (Zip Code)
Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:               (602) 808-8800

                                       N/A
           ----------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     [  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
          (17 CFR 230.425)

     [  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
          (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     [  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
          Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     [  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
          Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 2.02     Results of Operations and Financial Condition

              On April 20, 2005, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (the
"Company") issued a press release regarding its third quarter 2005 financial
results. A copy of the Company's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.
              In accordance with general instruction B.2 to Form 8-K, the
information filed in this Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall be deemed
"furnished" and not "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
is not incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

Not Applicable.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

Not Applicable.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1     Copy of press release, dated April 20, 2005, issued by Medicis
         Pharmaceutical Corporation




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                           MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
                                           (Registrant)


Date:  April 20, 2005                      /s/ Mark A. Prygocki, Sr.
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:      Mark A. Prygocki, Sr.
                                           Title:     Executive Vice President,
                                                      Chief Financial Officer,
                                                      Corporate Secretary and
                                                      Treasurer