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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-27</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>HOVIK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>Q8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>1322</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>NORWAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, API</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4270</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4270</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31470</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options become exercisable at a rate of 25% on each of the four anniversary dates immediately following the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Restricted Stock Units do not have an expiration date, however, prior to the date on which they are fully vested, the Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture upon the terminaion of the Reporting Person's employment with the Issuer, as set forth more fully in the Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Robert Wrobel  For: Carl Aake Carlsson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-02-27
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001196060
CARLSSON CARL AKE
BATSTOJORDET 93
HOVIK
Q8
1322
NORWAY
0
1
0
0
President, API
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
31.62
2006-02-27
4
A
0
10000
0
A
2016-02-27
Common Stock A
10000
10000
D
Restricted Stock Unit
0
2006-02-27
4
A
0
4270
0
A
2009-02-27
Common Stock A
4270
31470
D
These options become exercisable at a rate of 25% on each of the four anniversary dates immediately following the date of grant.
The Restricted Stock Units do not have an expiration date, however, prior to the date on which they are fully vested, the Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture upon the terminaion of the Reporting Person's employment with the Issuer, as set forth more fully in the Award Agreement.
By: Robert Wrobel  For: Carl Aake Carlsson
2006-03-02