-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LSTMRd2m2HIO4+LskRJJvhvO7qJJ+NJ5f+a1FTj/oMtUJAM+yp7q93NFquhl2Hr6
 X9T13cQliNxzpNQlxgg9mA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000019520-04-000008.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000019520-04-000008.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105120204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000019520-04-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALANTE ONOFRIO RON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001156150

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05905
		FILM NUMBER:		04502666

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CHATTEM INC
		STREET 2:		1715 WEST 38TH STREET
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37409
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4238212037

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CHATTEM INC
		STREET 2:		1715 WEST 38TH STREET
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37409
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>gal114.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHATTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHTT</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001156150</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALANTE ONOFRIO RON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHATTEM INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1715 WEST 38TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATTANOOGA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37409</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>VP, New Business Development</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Shares</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2004-01-02</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>16500</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>4.9350</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>16700.000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Shares</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2004-01-02</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>16500</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>18.0612</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>200.000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>2000 Stock Option Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>4.9350</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2004-01-02</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>16500</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>18.0612</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2002-04-26</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2011-04-26</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Shares</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>16500.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>33000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>2000 Stock Option Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>14.4500</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2003-06-10</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2012-06-10</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Shares</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>20000.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>20000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>2003 Stock Option Plan  (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>14.5000</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-05-29</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-05-29</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Shares</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>10000.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>10000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first exercise date.

</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>/s/ Galante, Onofrio (Ron) </signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-01-05</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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