-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AAIMtvagvOvaakBlsAYpid2jHuajf34NhaaDDmuEcJpg3158y5/GhQheyXYSy8i5
 devc3+oblpvKvduGChCgqw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904454-08-000414.txt : 20080918
<SEC-HEADER>0000904454-08-000414.hdr.sgml : 20080918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080918192246
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904454-08-000414
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080918
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Coleman Thomas Jason
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001443559

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		081079233

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-862-5800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lowenstein Michael Bernard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001443560

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		081079234

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-862-5800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

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:		5200 PARAMOUNT PARKWAY
		CITY:			MORRISVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27560
		BUSINESS PHONE:		919-460-5500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5200 PARAMOUNT PARKWAY
		CITY:			MORRISVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27560

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kensico Capital, LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001442779

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		081079235

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-862-5800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kensico Associates, L.P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001442778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		081079236

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-862-5800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790705</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKELEC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKLC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001442778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kensico Associates, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001442779</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kensico Capital, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001443560</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lowenstein Michael Bernard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001443559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Coleman Thomas Jason</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KENSICO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 RAILROAD AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2020883</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities reported as directly beneficially owned by Kensico Associates, L.P. may be deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by Kensico Capital, L.L.C., Thomas Jason Coleman and Michael Bernard Lowenstein.  Michael Bernard Lowenstein and Thomas Jason Coleman are managing members of Kensico Capital, L.L.C., which is the sole general partner of Kensico Associates, L.P.  Pursuant to Instruction 4b)(iv) of Form 4, Kensico Capital, L.L.C., Thomas Jason Coleman and Michael Bernard Lowenstein have elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities owned by Kensico Associates, L.P. but each of them disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed its or his pecuniary interest therein and/or that are not actually distributed to it or him.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Bernard Lowenstein, Managing Member of Kensico Capital, L.L.C., General Partner of Kensico Associates, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Bernard Lowenstein, Managing Member of Kensico Capital, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Bernard Lowenstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas Jason Coleman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----