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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001429560</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TREVENA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRVN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439589</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439590</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polaris Venture Partners V, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polaris Venture Partners Entrepreneurs' Fund V, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439588</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polaris Venture Partners Founders' Fund V, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STEET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439586</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polaris Venture Partners Special Founders' Fund V, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001117003</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGUIRE TERRANCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295676</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flint Jonathan A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 WINTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02451</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35415</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.04</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3637115</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>690</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.04</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70885</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>243</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.04</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24911</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>354</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.04</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36369</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $6.00 to $6.53, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer or the staff of the Securities Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote (1) to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reportable securities are owned directly by Polaris Venture Partners V, L.P. (&quot;PVP V&quot;). Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C. (&quot;PVM V&quot;) is the general partner of PVP V. PVM V disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that PVM V is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein. Each of Jonathan A. Flint (&quot;Flint&quot;) and Terrance G. McGuire (&quot;McGuire&quot;) are the managing members of PVM V. Each of Flint and McGuire disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any of them is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reportable securities are owned directly by Polaris Venture Partners Entrepreneurs' Fund V, L.P. (&quot;PVPE V&quot;). PVM V is the general partner of PVPE V. PVM V disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that PVM V is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein. Each of Flint and McGuire disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any of them is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The reportable securities are owned directly by Polaris Venture Partners Founders' Fund V, L.P. (&quot;PVPFF V&quot;). PVM V is the general partner of PVPFF V. PVM V disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that PVM V is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein. Each of Flint and McGuire disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any of them is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The reportable securities are owned directly by Polaris Venture Partners Special Founders' Fund V, L.P. (&quot;PVPSFF V&quot;). PVM V is the general partner of PVPSFF V. PVM V disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that PVM V is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein. Each of Flint and McGuire disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any of them is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Gannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Gannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C., general partner of Polaris Venture Partners V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Gannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C., general partner of Polaris Venture Partners Entrepreneurs' Fund V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Gannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C., general partner of Polaris Venture Partners Founders' Fund V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Gannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Polaris Venture Management Co. V, L.L.C., general partner of Polaris Venture Partners Special Founders' Fund V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Terrance G. McGuire</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jonathan A. Flint</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
