-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 No/5ABn34AwxVH49lLqb053fq1Naf+xy1hg+UXSHhhbltM32mspnbHNVE1JNpNDr
 bq3l+Hp2NbK4GlkN9fbD4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000019520-03-000014.txt : 20030630
<SEC-HEADER>0000019520-03-000014.hdr.sgml : 20030630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030630122615
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000019520-03-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030626
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030630

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIKER DONALD K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236876

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05905
		FILM NUMBER:		03763241

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1715 WEST 38TH STREET
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37409

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHATTEM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019520
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				620156300
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1715 W 38TH ST
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37409
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4238214571

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1715 W 38TH ST
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37409

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHATTEM DRUG & CHEMICAL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19790111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rik93.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHATTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHTT</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236876</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIKER DONALD K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>VP, R&amp;D and CSO</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Shares</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-26</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>149</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>7.8100</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>149.000</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Shares</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-26</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>149</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>18.9100</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>0.000</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<derivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<value>7.8100</value>
		</conversionOrExercisePrice>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-06-26</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>149</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>0</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>D</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<exerciseDate>
			<value>2002-11-05</value>
		</exerciseDate>
		<expirationDate>
			<value>2011-11-05</value>
		</expirationDate>
		<underlyingSecurity>
			<underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<value>Common Shares</value>
			</underlyingSecurityTitle>
			<underlyingSecurityShares>
				<value>149.00</value>
			</underlyingSecurityShares>
		</underlyingSecurity>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>29851.00</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</derivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>/s/ Riker, Donald K</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-06-30</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----