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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-28</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>2008-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>480</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32869</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units granted in connection with the amendment of a performance based restricted stock units agreement to set a fixed amount of shares to be awarded upon vesting.  The restricted stock units vest on July 16, 2010, provided that each individual is employed by the Company on such date.  The vesting schedule is subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Thomas Spellman III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-01-28
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
2008-01-28
4
A
0
480
0
A
32869
D
Restricted Stock Units granted in connection with the amendment of a performance based restricted stock units agreement to set a fixed amount of shares to be awarded upon vesting.  The restricted stock units vest on July 16, 2010, provided that each individual is employed by the Company on such date.  The vesting schedule is subject to the forfeiture and acceleration provisions in the Award Agreement.
By: Marie Amerasinghe  For: Thomas Spellman III
2008-01-30