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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-05-21</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001103021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BDSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001601692</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOTLER KEVIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BROADFIN CAPITAL, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>300 PARK AVENUE, 25TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001511900</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Broadfin Healthcare Master Fund Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20 GENESIS CLOSE ANSBACHER HOUSE,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SECOND FLOOR, P.O. BOX 1344</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GRAND CAYMAN KY1-1108</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>E9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CAYMAN ISLANDS</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001511901</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Broadfin Capital, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 PARK AVENUE, 25TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4278819</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12222223</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Common Stock and Series B Non-Voting Convertible Stock (&quot;Series B&quot;) are held in the account of Broadfin Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd., a private investment fund managed by Broadfin Capital, LLC, and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Kevin Kotler, managing member of Broadfin Capital, LLC. Kevin Kotler affirmatively (i) disclaims beneficial ownership of the reportable securities, (ii) states that this report shall not be deemed an admission that he is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 (&quot;Section 16&quot;) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Act&quot;) or any other purpose, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein., and (iii) disclaims being a &quot;group&quot; for purposes of Section 16.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Series B were issued in connection with an offering on May 17, 2018 (the &quot;Offering&quot;), pursuant to a definitive securities purchase agreement with certain institutional and accredited investors, including existing stockholders of the Company. The Series B shares are convertible upon shareholder approval to an increase of the Company's authorized number of shares issued and outstanding, and the transactions contemplated by the Offering under applicable Nasdaq Stock Market rules (&quot;Shareholder Approval&quot;).  An annual shareholder meeting wherein the Company will seek such Shareholder Approval will be scheduled within seventy-five days post-closing of the Offering.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Series B may (i) only be converted after Shareholder Approval is granted, and (ii) not be converted if, after such conversion, the Reporting Person would beneficially own, as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Act, more than 9.98% of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. Series B does not have an expiration date, but the issuer may force conversion of the Series B, subject to certain limitations.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BROADFIN CAPITAL, LLC, By: /s/ Kevin Kotler, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin Kotler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BROADFIN HEALTHCARE MASTER FUND, LTD., By: /s/ Kevin Kotler, Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
