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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-08-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <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>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>96247</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>96247</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96247</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>48123</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2028-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>48123</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48123</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) were issued to the Reporting Person on August 1, 2018, as compensation for service on the Issuer's board of directors. The RSUs vest as follows: (i) 3,124 RSUs vest in the first open window following the filing of the Company's quarterly 10Q for June 30, 2018, (ii) 18,123 RSUs vest in the first open window following the Company's 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (iii) 30,000 RSUs vest in the first open window following the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (iv) 30,000 RSUs vest in the first open window following the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and (v) 15,000 RSUs vest in the first open window following the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The stock options (&quot;options&quot;) were issued to the Reporting Person on August 1, 2018, as compensation for service on the Issuer's board of directors. The options vest as follows: (i) 1,562 options vest in the first open window following the filing of the Company's quarterly 10Q for June 30, 2018, (ii) 9,061 options vest in the first open window following the Company's 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (iii) 15,000 options vest in the first open window following the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (iv) 15,000 options vest in the first open window following the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and (v) 7,500 options vest in the first open window following the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BROADFIN CAPITAL, LLC, By:  /s/ Kevin Kotler, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin Kotler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BROADFIN HEALTHCARE MASTER FUND, LTD., By:  /s/ Kevin Kotler, Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
