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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jacobsen Finn Berg</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5084</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5084</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21036</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">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. For informational purposes only , the closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on May 8, 2008 was $25.57.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock Units vest immediately upon Reporting Persons retirement from the Issuer's Board of Directors (the &quot;Board&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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: Finn Berg Jacobsen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2008-05-08
0
0000730469
ALPHARMA INC
ALO
0001324989
Jacobsen Finn Berg
C/O ALPHARMA INC
440 ROUTE 22 EAST
BRIDGEWATER
NJ
08807
1
0
0
0
Restricted Stock Unit
2008-05-08
4
A
0
5084
0
A
Common Stock A
5084
21036
D
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. For informational purposes only , the closing price of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock on May 8, 2008 was $25.57.
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: Finn Berg Jacobsen
2008-05-12