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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001405262</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Spellman Thomas J III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>440 ROUTE 22 EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRIDGEWATER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, CLO &amp; Corporate Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Performance Based Restricted Stock Units subject to vesting as follows:  if the Company's cumulative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (&quot;EBITDA&quot;) during the performance period (as defined in the Award Agreement) reaches certain levels, on third anniversary of the grant date, the individual shall receive a percentage of the number of target restricted stock units, provided that such individual is employed by the Company on such date.  This vesting schedule is subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options vest at a rate of 25% on each of the four anniversary dates immediately following the date of grant, subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Thomas J Spellman III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-07-16
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001405262
Spellman Thomas J III
440 ROUTE 22 EAST
BRIDGEWATER
NJ
08807
0
1
0
0
EVP, CLO & Corporate Secretary
Common Stock A
2007-07-16
4
A
0
10000
0
A
10000
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
25.92
2007-07-16
4
A
0
20000
0
A
2017-07-16
Common Stock A
20000
20000
D
Performance Based Restricted Stock Units subject to vesting as follows:  if the Company's cumulative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") during the performance period (as defined in the Award Agreement) reaches certain levels, on third anniversary of the grant date, the individual shall receive a percentage of the number of target restricted stock units, provided that such individual is employed by the Company on such date.  This vesting schedule is subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.
These options vest at a rate of 25% on each of the four anniversary dates immediately following the date of grant, subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.
By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Thomas J Spellman III
2007-07-18