<?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>0001232353</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMPBELL JEFFREY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ALPHARMA INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>440 ROUTE 22 EAST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRIDGEWATER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, CFO</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>149</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43023</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <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>149</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43172</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>
        <footnote id="F2">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 May 15, 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: Jeffrey Campbell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-01-28
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001232353
CAMPBELL JEFFREY
C/O ALPHARMA INC.
440 ROUTE 22 EAST
BRIDGEWATER
NJ
08807
0
1
0
0
EVP, CFO
Common Stock A
2008-01-28
4
A
0
149
0
A
43023
D
Common Stock A
2008-01-28
4
A
0
149
0
A
43172
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.
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 May 15, 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: Jeffrey Campbell
2008-01-30