<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001442776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kensico Partners, 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>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1464504</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities reported as directly beneficially owned by Kensico Partners, 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 Partners, L.P.  Pursuant to Instruction 5(b)(iv) of Form 3, 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 Partners, 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 Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Bernard Lowenstein, Managing Member of Kensico Capital, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Bernard Lowenstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas Jason Coleman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
