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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,
 LbheGLKksNzaXzaeI/64maCG+qZPqf2R59K/PZXYy1xZ8wMxtu1iJR58QwCJ7Fab
 ygyUD3N6M0FuMx5+JFa6cw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000790705-03-000012.txt : 20030925
<SEC-HEADER>0000790705-03-000012.hdr.sgml : 20030925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030925181020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000790705-03-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030925

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARKER DANNY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236898

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		03910885

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TEKELEC
		STREET 2:		26580 WEST AGOURA ROAD
		CITY:			CALABASAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91302

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>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790705</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKELEC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKLC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236898</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PARKER DANNY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>103 KAZMANN CT.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27513</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>V.P. Corporate Development</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.31</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4345</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyin
gSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4345</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option to purchase 4,354 shares provided for vesting of 1,250 shares on 3/31/04, 1,250 shares on 6/30/04, 595 shares on 9/30/04 and 1,250 shares on 3/31/05.</footnote><footnote id="F2">On August 29, 2003, the issuer canceled, pursuant to the issuer's option exchange program, an option granted to the reporting person on January 30, 2001.  In exchange, the reporting person will receive a replacement option on approximately March 3, 2004, for 2,173 shares, having an exercise price equal to the market
 price of the underlying stock on the grant date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Danny L. Parker</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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