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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196058</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WRENN CAROL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>92 PILL HIL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BERNARDSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07924</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Animal Health</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2931</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32667</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Company purchased 2,931 shares from Ms. Wrenn upon vesting of a portion of Restricted Stock held by her on July 15, 2004. The Company granted these shares of Restricted Stock to Ms. Wrenn on August 26, 2003, pursuant to the 2003 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Albert N. Marchio, II - V.P. Treasurer  For: Carol Wrenn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "edgardoc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3310}]
X0202
4
2004-07-15
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001196058
WRENN CAROL
92 PILL HIL ROAD
BERNARDSVILLE
NJ
07924
0
1
0
0
President, Animal Health
Common Stock A
2004-07-15
4
S
0
2931
19.12
D
32667
D
The Company purchased 2,931 shares from Ms. Wrenn upon vesting of a portion of Restricted Stock held by her on July 15, 2004. The Company granted these shares of Restricted Stock to Ms. Wrenn on August 26, 2003, pursuant to the 2003 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
By: Albert N. Marchio, II - V.P. Treasurer  For: Carol Wrenn
2004-07-16