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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-11</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-04-15</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001182129</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUXILIUM PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AUXL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001274225</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LANGER DENNIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AUXILIUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>40 VALLEY STREAM PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MALVERN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19355</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>130</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>130</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person received these shares of common stock pursuant to the Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2004 Equity Compensation Plan in lieu of payment to the reporting person of his director's fees for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of $3,725.80.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This Amended Form 4 is being filed to correct an error contained in the original Form 4 filed on April 15, 2008 (the &quot;Original Form 4&quot;). The Original Form 4 erroneously reported that the reporting person received 130 shares of common stock in lieu of payment of director's fees for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. This Amended Form 4 correctly reports that the reporting person received 130 shares of common stock in lieu of payment of director's fees for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jennifer Evans Stacey, as Attorney-in-Fact for Dennis Langer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
