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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196057</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wiik Ingrid</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LYSAKER BRYGGE 15</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LYSAKER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>Q8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>N-13 66</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>NORWAY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79536</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </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">Forfeit of restricted stock due to retirement, pursuant to terms of Restricted Stock Agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Holders of these units will receive dividend equalivents.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted Stock Units vest immediately upon Reporting Persons retirement from the Issuer's Board of Directors (the &quot;Board&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">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: Ingrid Wiik</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-06-30
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001196057
Wiik Ingrid
LYSAKER BRYGGE 15
LYSAKER
Q8
N-13 66
NORWAY
1
0
0
0
Common Stock A
2006-06-30
4
D
0
50000
D
79536
D
Restricted Stock Unit
2006-07-01
4
A
0
5000
0
A
Common Stock A
5000
5000
D
Forfeit of restricted stock due to retirement, pursuant to terms of Restricted Stock Agreement.
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").
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: Ingrid Wiik
2006-07-05