-----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,
 CW/P9j4u+vtINfUWnZj7KMQkgP/0lTCEvkQVggxVkusx7QQr1ghy9a/OomV3u3Xv
 5Xi8DY3Q3PV3tU/NYP3PGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000790705-03-000008.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0000790705-03-000008.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812190747
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000790705-03-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON JAMES M JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258284

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		03838794

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26580 WEST AGOURA ROAD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188805656

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEKELEC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790705
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				952746131
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26580 W AGOURA RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188805656

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26580 W AGOURA RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-11</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790705</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKELEC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKLC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258284</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON JAMES M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1250 DOGWOOD DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30642</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres. &amp; GM, Ntwk Signaling Div</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.14</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-31</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-09-30</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><un
derlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option to purchase 100,000 shares vests and becomes exercisable in 16 equal quarterly installments commencing September 30, 2003.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">Each installment expires on the four-year anniversary of its vesting.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>James M. Johnson, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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