-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FCzjgT783lhdOyJPiAcZhjx0TLtr1KsQm0FVNF+ymgSWYcHUwLsiOIkrkwV1gZo4
 McWuwywKQeNtHJEhMlm4rw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-016751.txt : 20090722
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-016751.hdr.sgml : 20090722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090722100648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-016751
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090720
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CONDELLA FRANK JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001282199

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10352
		FILM NUMBER:		09956293

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4400 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33137

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLUMBIA LABORATORIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000821995
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				592758596
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		354 EISENHOWER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9739943999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		354 EISENHOWER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000821995</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLUMBIA LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282199</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONDELLA FRANK JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>354 EISENHOWER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PLAZA I SECOND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LIVINGSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07039</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>$.01 Par Value Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41164</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock award</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael McGrane for Frank Condella Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----