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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949858</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001303521</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fuhrman Alan</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SONUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>22026 20TH AVE. SE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOTHELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Alan Fuhrman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

