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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196064</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SISSENER EINAR W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ASSTUBBEN 5</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>N-0381 OLSO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>Q8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>NORWAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>134861</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>186689</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Corporation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22847</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34270</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">By A/S Swekk. Mr. Sissener is the Chairman of the Board of A/S Swekk and has voting power over 100% of its shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Estate of Kari Sissener</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">EWS Stiftelson</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On May 23, 2006, Mr. Sissener was granted restricted stock units that converted into 5,000 shares of common stock on a 1 for 1 basis upon his retirement.  These restricted stock units vested on July 31, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Einar W. Sissener</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-07-31
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001196064
SISSENER EINAR W
ASSTUBBEN 5
N-0381 OLSO
Q8
NORWAY
0
0
1
0
Common Stock A
2006-07-31
4
M
0
5000
0
A
134861
D
Common Stock A
186689
I
by Corporation
Common Stock A
22847
I
by Spouse
Common Stock A
34270
I
by Trust
Restricted Stock Unit
2006-07-31
4
M
0
5000
0
D
2006-07-31
Common Stock A
5000
0
D
By A/S Swekk. Mr. Sissener is the Chairman of the Board of A/S Swekk and has voting power over 100% of its shares.
Estate of Kari Sissener
EWS Stiftelson
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.
On May 23, 2006, Mr. Sissener was granted restricted stock units that converted into 5,000 shares of common stock on a 1 for 1 basis upon his retirement.  These restricted stock units vested on July 31, 2006.
By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Einar W. Sissener
2006-08-01