<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:211e9e32-19f5-4310-93bf-06d910c76fed,g:088ce82f-6228-4d09-abf6-5a811f433f5d-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.ardelyx.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ardx-20211130.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.ardelyx.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_5bab6bb9-41fa-4d71-aeb2-958f670ba18f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressesTable_5f16ae76-290e-4e1b-aefd-685969a4c3bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressesTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_5bab6bb9-41fa-4d71-aeb2-958f670ba18f" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressesTable_5f16ae76-290e-4e1b-aefd-685969a4c3bc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressesAddressTypeAxis_fcc9c740-7c9f-4ac1-a9e7-3490e27ebdd1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressesAddressTypeAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesTable_5f16ae76-290e-4e1b-aefd-685969a4c3bc" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressesAddressTypeAxis_fcc9c740-7c9f-4ac1-a9e7-3490e27ebdd1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AddressTypeDomain_eba6a976-700d-4ab6-91c8-2e89fd9523a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_AddressTypeDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesAddressTypeAxis_fcc9c740-7c9f-4ac1-a9e7-3490e27ebdd1" xlink:to="loc_dei_AddressTypeDomain_eba6a976-700d-4ab6-91c8-2e89fd9523a8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_OtherAddressMember_e1b20d11-0c41-4d82-ae7d-964a1dc4c615" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_OtherAddressMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_AddressTypeDomain_eba6a976-700d-4ab6-91c8-2e89fd9523a8" xlink:to="loc_dei_OtherAddressMember_e1b20d11-0c41-4d82-ae7d-964a1dc4c615" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressesLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesTable_5f16ae76-290e-4e1b-aefd-685969a4c3bc" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_2b61ebe1-6fbf-432a-97de-8a26d1591d43" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_2b61ebe1-6fbf-432a-97de-8a26d1591d43" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_2abbddd3-0896-45f9-aae7-9dfb79f04b9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_2abbddd3-0896-45f9-aae7-9dfb79f04b9e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_71e61f33-e4f9-4855-adaa-ed332b720e66" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_71e61f33-e4f9-4855-adaa-ed332b720e66" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_2109ddd0-0fc8-42e7-ba9d-42dd133abf34" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_2109ddd0-0fc8-42e7-ba9d-42dd133abf34" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_08fbfd79-5fa7-4148-ba32-2972da055206" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_08fbfd79-5fa7-4148-ba32-2972da055206" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_e95f1f02-1298-4c39-bc1c-cbe1484af8cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_e95f1f02-1298-4c39-bc1c-cbe1484af8cb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_a810bbe4-4133-4965-be47-e19706d8bf33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_a810bbe4-4133-4965-be47-e19706d8bf33" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_263ddc62-7fa2-4779-a838-47dea37db427" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_263ddc62-7fa2-4779-a838-47dea37db427" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_e2594e7d-a671-489d-8626-e07164cf8a8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_e2594e7d-a671-489d-8626-e07164cf8a8d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_bee917ed-4866-472b-b215-092a6da122ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_bee917ed-4866-472b-b215-092a6da122ed" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_0f879b42-72c5-4b87-b3c8-7f18e4117058" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_0f879b42-72c5-4b87-b3c8-7f18e4117058" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_953c61d1-8489-42b0-84d6-c98315f17f76" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_953c61d1-8489-42b0-84d6-c98315f17f76" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_03972d23-32fa-4d5b-ab43-1138acfc8d2c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_03972d23-32fa-4d5b-ab43-1138acfc8d2c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_95f02db1-5308-4d3b-b973-3f4089372254" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_95f02db1-5308-4d3b-b973-3f4089372254" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_9dfae05d-2292-4a5d-9817-26ab8504e196" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_9dfae05d-2292-4a5d-9817-26ab8504e196" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_adf992a1-b24b-475c-b25d-34de56e2d61c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_adf992a1-b24b-475c-b25d-34de56e2d61c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_26bef53a-7c84-4c96-abbb-079a92d9fe11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_26bef53a-7c84-4c96-abbb-079a92d9fe11" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_f15e67bf-8fa7-4067-a7d2-ffc4361d2b3c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_f15e67bf-8fa7-4067-a7d2-ffc4361d2b3c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_2993eda2-b2b4-4dbf-9fe2-875f5919759c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_2993eda2-b2b4-4dbf-9fe2-875f5919759c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_e75c95c0-d04c-4472-9345-8852ef6431c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_e75c95c0-d04c-4472-9345-8852ef6431c1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_e343f16e-6d38-4286-ad4f-d9de77cdc622" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_e343f16e-6d38-4286-ad4f-d9de77cdc622" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_8f411d41-c7c6-4af5-8682-eff58b0bc23b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_8f411d41-c7c6-4af5-8682-eff58b0bc23b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_7f0828ce-e4ce-494b-950c-f4e5641401f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021/dei-2021.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="23" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityAddressesLineItems_87e0b8e6-caa7-4c01-944c-01e4454d1db1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_7f0828ce-e4ce-494b-950c-f4e5641401f4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
