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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000057055</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KV PHARMACEUTICAL CO /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KV.A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001506406</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>U.S. Healthcare I, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001484835</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375  PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001484832</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Centerbridge Credit Advisors, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001484831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Centerbridge Special Credit Advisors, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001506407</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>U.S. Healthcare II, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001425800</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aronson Jeffrey</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001426126</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gallogly Mark T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001484836</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Centerbridge Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>375 PARK AVENUE, 12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-11-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9900000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-11-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2687511</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 securities reported herein are held directly by each of  U.S. Healthcare I, L.L.C. (&quot;USH I&quot;) and U.S. Healthcare II, L.L.C. (&quot;USH II&quot;).  Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC (&quot;CPH&quot;) is the general partner of Centerbridge Partners, L.P. (&quot;CP&quot;), which is the managing member of each of Centerbridge Credit Advisors, L.L.C. (&quot;CCA&quot;) and Centerbridge Special Credit Advisors, L.L.C. (&quot;CSCA&quot;).  CCA and CSCA are the investment managers of  each of USH I and USH II, respectively, with respect to which each has voting and dispositive authority over the securities reported herein.  Messrs. Aronson and Gallogly are the managing members of CPH. Therefore, CPH, CP, CCA , CSCA and Messrs. Aronson and Gallogly may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the securities reported herein.  Each of CPH, CP, CCA , CSCA and Messrs. Aronson and Gallogly disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CENTERBRIDGE PARTNERS, L.P., By: Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC, its general partner,  /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CENTERBRIDGE PARTNERS HOLDINGS, LLC, /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CENTERBRIDGE CREDIT ADVISORS, L.L.C., By: Centerbridge Partners, L.P., its managing member,By: Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC, its general partner, /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CENTERBRIDGE SPECIAL CREDIT ADVISORS, L.L.C., By: Centerbridge Partners, L.P., its managing member, By: Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC, its general partner, /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>U.S. HEALTHCARE I, L.L.C., By: Centerbridge Credit Advisors, L.L.C., its manager, By: Centerbridge Partners, L.P., its managing member, By: Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC, its general partner, /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>U.S. HEALTHCARE II, L.L.C., By: Centerbridge Special Credit Advisors, L.L.C., its manager, By: Centerbridge Partners, L.P., its managing member, By: Centerbridge Partners Holdings, LLC, its general partner, /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JEFFREY H. ARONSON, /s/  Jeffrey H. Aronson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MARK T. GALLOGLY, /s/  Mark T. Gallogly</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
