After much searching and a couple of questions later i found out how to add DB4 support to cpanel and apache.

To add this option into apache it is necessary to modify a permanent configuration file so that when apache builds it includes the option to add DB$ support. there is a useful link on the cpanel website that describes these permanent config files
http://www.cpanel.net/support/docs/ea/ea3/ea3custom_flags.html

DB4 support will need to be added to config of php. Depending on which version of php you are using will depend on the directory you will need to edit. I am using php 5 so a file called all_php5 needs to be added to the following directory /var/cpanel/easy/apache/rawopts/ .
In the file you will need to add the following line --with-db4=/usr/include/db4
once this file has been saved you know need to rebuild apache. you can do this at command line or through whm.

Once this has finished DB4 support should be enabled for your cpanel box.