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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-02-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201096</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORMAN KEVIN CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12780 EL CAMINO REAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>23000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
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                <value>35.99</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-02-05</value>
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                <value>E</value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>109100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-02-05</value>
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                <value>E</value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>35750</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-05</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Neurocrine Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Restricted Stock Units will vest annually at 1/4 of the units vesting on each of February 5, 2017, February 5, 2018, February 5, 2019, and February 5, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents option of which 1/48th of the shares underlying the option becomes vested and exercisable on March 5, 2016 and an additional 1/48th of the shares underlying the option becomes vested and exercisable each month thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Performance Restricted Stock Units (&quot;PRSU&quot;) will vest upon the date the Company has achieved both (1) obtaining positive pivotal clinical trial data for the treatment of Tourette syndrome with valbenazine and (2) FDA acceptance of a New Drug Application for the treatment of Tourette syndrome with valbenazine.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Darin Lippoldt, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
