<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001100962</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENDO PHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ENDP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001294704</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>120 WEST FORTY-FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See footnote 4.</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001009268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>D. E. SHAW &amp; CO, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>120 WEST FORTY-FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See footnote 4.</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023870</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAW DAVID E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>120 WEST FORTY-FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>39TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See footnote 4.</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>331633</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.198</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12812611</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>489597</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.052</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12323014</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>700000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.647</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11623014</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Weighted average sale price for the transactions report on this line.  Actual sales ranged in price from $17.00 to $17.58. The reporting person undertakes to provide upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Weighted average sale price for the transactions report on this line.  Actual sales ranged in price from $16.90 to $17.24. The reporting person undertakes to provide upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Weighted average sale price for the transactions report on this line.  Actual sales ranged in price from $16.295 to $17.12. The reporting person undertakes to provide upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">D. E. Shaw &amp; Co., L.P. (&quot;DESCO LP&quot;), as investment adviser to Valence and as managing member of DESIM LLC, and David E. Shaw (as president and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw &amp; Co., Inc., which is the general partner of DESCO LP), may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Common Stock of the Issuer for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  In accordance with instruction 4(b)(iv), the entire number of shares of Common Stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Valence, DESIM LLC, or DESCO LP is reported herein.  Each of DESCO LP, DESIM LLC, and David E. Shaw disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the securities listed in this Form 4, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C. By: Rochelle Elias, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>D. E. Shaw &amp; Co., L.P. By: Rochelle Elias, Chief Compliance Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David E. Shaw By: Rochelle Elias, Attorney-in-Fact for David E. Shaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
