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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2012-03-20</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001053369</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS INC /NV/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ELTP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001442002</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EPIC PHARMA LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>227-15 NORTH CONDUIT AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAURELTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11413-3134</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series E Preferred Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0246</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-03-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5082301</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>see footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This footnote does not relate to this amendment. See original filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person, Epic Pharma, LLC (&quot;EP&quot;), is an equity owner of Epic Investments, LLC (&quot;EI&quot;), which owns securities convertible into or exercisable for in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the issuer. EP and EI are both owned, wholly or in part, and are operated by Ram Potti, Ashok G. Nigalaye and Jeenarine Narine, each of whom is a director of the issuer. The interest of EP in the securities of the issuer owned by EI is limited, and EP disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except, to the extent of its pecuniary interest in EI.  The grant of the Series E Preferred Stock was approved by the issuer's board of directors on March 13, 2009. This amendment is filed because the transaction was previously erroneously described as a Purchase.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">N/A</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ram Potti</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
