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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000730469</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232359</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THONG ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>36 ROTHERWOOD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PUTNEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW15 1JZ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.58</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.58</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Director Option shall vest in full on the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date of grant of such option.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These are Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The closing price of Alpharma Class A Common stock on May 25, 2004 was $19.58.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The closing price of Alpharma Class A Common Stock on May 25, 2004 was $19.58.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These units are restricted and do not vest until 12 months following retirement from the Board. Vested units will be delivered in shares. In addition, directors can elect to defer receipt by making an election in advance.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">There is no expiration date, but a risk of forfeiture if the director is removed from the Board.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Albert N.Marchio, II - V.P. Treasurer  For: Robert Thong</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "edgardoc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6534}]
X0202
4
2004-05-27
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001232359
THONG ROBERT
36 ROTHERWOOD ROAD
PUTNEY
X0
SW15 1JZ
1
0
0
0
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
19
2003-05-20
4
A
0
11800
0
A
2013-05-20
Common Stock A
11800
11800
D
Performance Shares
19.58
2004-05-25
4
A
0
5000
19.58
A
Common Stock A
5000
5000
D
The Director Option shall vest in full on the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date of grant of such option.
These are Restricted Stock Units.
The closing price of Alpharma Class A Common stock on May 25, 2004 was $19.58.
The closing price of Alpharma Class A Common Stock on May 25, 2004 was $19.58.
These units are restricted and do not vest until 12 months following retirement from the Board. Vested units will be delivered in shares. In addition, directors can elect to defer receipt by making an election in advance.
There is no expiration date, but a risk of forfeiture if the director is removed from the Board.
By: Albert N.Marchio, II - V.P. Treasurer  For: Robert Thong
2004-05-27