-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C5tVSTL3sZQtlYeoHDNrX6OmKzC/1l8DQg4pAa4yrii6UTUpYKdtEImkCiIMrmc1
 5K0luMnGn+vBoGiW3Gshpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000898432-03-001169.txt : 20031119
<SEC-HEADER>0000898432-03-001169.hdr.sgml : 20031119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031119181228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000898432-03-001169
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TARRIFF SCOTT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192853

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10827
		FILM NUMBER:		031013953

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PHARMACEUTICAL INC
		STREET 2:		ONE RAM RIDGE ROAD
		CITY:			SPRING VALLEY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10977

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHARMACEUTICAL RESOURCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000878088
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				223122182
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RAM RIDGE RD
		CITY:			SPRING VALLEY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10977
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9144257100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RAM RIDGE RD
		CITY:			SPRING VALLEY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10977
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000878088</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHARMACEUTICAL RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192853</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TARRIFF SCOTT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RAM RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRING VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10977</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>71.7639</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Option tobuy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-09-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-09-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>243000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>172500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% vest on the first anniversary (9/21/02) of the date of grant and an additional 25% vest on each anniversary thereafter</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>POWER OF ATTORNEY:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned does hereby consitute and appoint MARIAN E. GUSTAFSON, with full power to act, as his true and lawful attonrey-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, and to do any and all acts and things in his name and on his behalf, to execute any and all documents and instruments, which said attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to enable him to comply with the reporting requirements pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including but not limited to Form 4-Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership and Form 5- Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership, relating to his ownership in Pharmaceutical Resources, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) for the period October 1, 2003 through and including September 30, 2004; and to file the same, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Company, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

/s/ Scott L. Tarriff
Dated:  October 20, 2003</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marian E. Gustafson for Scott L. Tarriff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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