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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232353</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMPBELL JEFFREY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ALPHARMA INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>440 ROUTE 22 EAST</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, CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39981</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>22.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14000</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 N. Amerasinghe  For: Jeffrey S Campbell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-05-15
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001232353
CAMPBELL JEFFREY
C/O ALPHARMA INC.
440 ROUTE 22 EAST
BRIDGEWATER
NJ
08807
0
1
0
0
EVP, CFO
Common Stock A
2007-05-15
4
A
0
3100
0
A
39981
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)
22.84
2007-05-15
4
A
0
14000
22.84
A
2017-05-15
Common Stock A
14000
14000
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 N. Amerasinghe  For: Jeffrey S Campbell
2007-05-17