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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196060</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARLSSON CARL AKE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BATSTOJORDET 93</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>1363 HOVIK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>Q8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>NORWAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, API</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>226</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33191</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units granted in connection with the amendment of a performance based restricted stock units agreement to set a fixed amount of shares to be awarded upon vesting.  The restricted stock units vest on March 28, 2010, provided that each individual is employed by the Company on such date.  The vesting schedule is subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Carl Aake Carlsson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-01-28
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001196060
CARLSSON CARL AKE
BATSTOJORDET 93
1363 HOVIK
Q8
NORWAY
0
1
0
0
President, API
Common Stock A
2008-01-28
4
A
0
226
0
A
33191
D
Restricted Stock Units granted in connection with the amendment of a performance based restricted stock units agreement to set a fixed amount of shares to be awarded upon vesting.  The restricted stock units vest on March 28, 2010, provided that each individual is employed by the Company on such date.  The vesting schedule is subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.
By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Carl Aake Carlsson
2008-01-30