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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292185</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Perez Ray</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5454 STRATFORD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>POWELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </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">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock, for no additional consideration, upon the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, dated as of the date of the grant, between the Reporting Person and the Issuer (the &quot;Award Agreement&quot;). For informational purposes only, the closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on May 23, 2006 was $23.11.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Holders of these units will receive dividend equalivents.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Restricted Stock Units vest immediately upon Reporting Persons retirement from the Issuer's Board of Directors (the &quot;Board&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted Stock Units do not have an expiration date, but they are subject to forferture if the Reporting Person voluntarily resigns from the Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Ray Perez</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-05-23
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001292185
Perez Ray
5454 STRATFORD AVENUE
POWELL
OH
43065
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Unit
2006-05-23
4
A
0
5000
0
A
Common Stock A
5000
5000
D
Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock, for no additional consideration, upon the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, dated as of the date of the grant, between the Reporting Person and the Issuer (the "Award Agreement"). For informational purposes only, the closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on May 23, 2006 was $23.11.
Holders of these units will receive dividend equalivents.
Restricted Stock Units vest immediately upon Reporting Persons retirement from the Issuer's Board of Directors (the "Board").
Restricted Stock Units do not have an expiration date, but they are subject to forferture if the Reporting Person voluntarily resigns from the Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Ray Perez
2006-05-25