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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001446847</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IRWD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937889</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VENROCK ASSOCIATES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239243</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VENROCK ASSOCIATES II LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239244</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VENROCK ENTERPRENEURS FUND LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239245</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VENROCK MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001458177</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VENROCK HEALTHCARE CAPITAL PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001479354</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VHCP Co-Investment Holdings, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001479355</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VHCP Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001465458</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VR Management LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001365618</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hove Anders D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3340 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8731321</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Funds</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of 2,559,605 shares held directly by Venrock Associates (&quot;VA&quot;), 3,683,329 shares held directly by Venrock Associates II, L.P. (&quot;VA2&quot;), 48,387 shares held by Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund, L.P. (&quot;VEF&quot;), 2,017,021 shares held directly by Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;VHCP&quot;), 382,979 shares held directly by VHCP Co-Investment Holdings, LLC (&quot;VHCP CI&quot;) and 40,000 shares held directly by VR Management, LLC (&quot;VRM&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Bryan E. Roberts, a director of the Company, is a general partner of VA and VA2 and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares. Mr. Roberts disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extnet of his proportionate pecuniary interest therein. Venrock Management, LLC (&quot;VM&quot;) is the general partner of VEF and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares. Mr. Roberts is a member of VM and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares. Mr. Roberts disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">VHCP Management, LLC (&quot;VHCPM&quot;) is the general partner of VHCP and the manager of VHCP CI and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares.  Mr. Roberts and Anders D. Hove are members of VHCPM and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares.  Messrs. Roberts and Hove disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of their proportionate pecuniary interest therein.  Messrs. Roberts and Hove are members of VRM and may be deemed to beneficially own these shares.  Messrs. Roberts and Hove disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of their proportionate pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Stepp, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
