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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2006-06-16</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000892112</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SIRNA THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RNAI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239242</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTS BRYAN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VENROCK ASSOCIATES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2494 SAND HILL ROAD, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22292</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-06-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22292</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22292</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amendment is being filed solely to reflect an additional stock option grant to purchase shares of Common Stock which was inadvertently omitted in the Form 4 filed on June 16, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant to Reporting Person of Non-Qualified Stock Option to purchase 12,738  shares of Common Stock in lieu of annual retainer, at the Reporting Person's election, in accordance with the Issuer's 2005 Performance Incentive Plan and of Non-Qualified Stock Option to purchase 9,554 shares of Common Stock in lieu of a chairperson retainer, at the Reporting Person's election, in accordance with the Issuer's 2005 Amended Director Compensation Plan.  The options were fully-vested and exercisable on the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bryan E. Roberts</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
