<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-04</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000353827</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PHFR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243245</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZEHER MICHAEL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PFI</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>460 PLAINFIELD AVENUE, P.O. BOX 1904</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08818-1904</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President &amp; COO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, p.v. $0.08 </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Right to buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.535</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-08-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, p.v. $0.08</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquired pursuant to grant under Pharmaceutical Formulations, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, subject to certain forfeiture requirements.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael A. Zeher</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

