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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jacobsen Finn Berg</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GABELS GATE 11</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OLSO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>Q8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>0272</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>NORWAY</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>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5835</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5835</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5835</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. For informational purposes only , the closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on June 23, 2005 was $14.39.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock Units do not vest until twelve months following the Reporting Persons retirement from the Issuer's Board of Directors (the &quot;Board&quot;).  Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding the deferral of director compensation, the Reporting Person may elect to defer receipt of the Class A Common Stock by making an election, in accordance with the Issuer's Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Restricted Stock Units do not have an expiration date, but they are subject to forferture if the Reporting Person resigns from the Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Marie Amerasinghe, V.P.  For: Finn Berg Jacobsen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-06-23
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001324989
Jacobsen Finn Berg
GABELS GATE 11
OLSO
Q8
0272
NORWAY
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Unit
0
2005-06-23
4
A
0
5835
0
A
Common Stock A
5835
5835
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. For informational purposes only , the closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on June 23, 2005 was $14.39.
Restricted Stock Units do not vest until twelve months following the Reporting Persons retirement from the Issuer's Board of Directors (the "Board").  Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding the deferral of director compensation, the Reporting Person may elect to defer receipt of the Class A Common Stock by making an election, in accordance with the Issuer's Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan.
Restricted Stock Units do not have an expiration date, but they are subject to forferture if the Reporting Person resigns from the Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
By: Marie Amerasinghe, V.P.  For: Finn Berg Jacobsen
2005-06-27