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    <periodOfReport>2007-09-12</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
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        <issuerName>CADENCE PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CADX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerName>ProQuest Investments III, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>90 NASSAU STREET, 5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PRINCETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08542</rptOwnerZipCode>
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    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001033508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Moorin Jay</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PROQUEST INVESTMENTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>90 NASSAU STREET, 5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PRINCETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08542-4520</rptOwnerZipCode>
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    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225149</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHREIBER ALAIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CADENCE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12481 HIGH BLUFF DRIVE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>2921268</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>599</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value>2920669</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-12</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2919669</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2919169</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dr. Alain Schreiber and Mr. Jay Moorin are managing members of ProQuest Associates III LLC and general partners of ProQuest Investments III, L.P.  Dr. Schreiber and Mr. Moorin disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission for Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Hazel M. Aker
Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
