-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MD6xQn0Sd1mvPeRn6WtIK8Y7vHuUnwRZNH/HSEOXjaDV6oRRAhMjCe+ntrR16ifZ
 B6fJp/Pn/4aqimM7QbdZOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000019520-05-000078.txt : 20050421
<SEC-HEADER>0000019520-05-000078.hdr.sgml : 20050421
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050421145308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000019520-05-000078
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050420
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050421
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050421

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Whitfield Theodore K JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001292899

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05905
		FILM NUMBER:		05764492

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		423-821-2037

	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>whi260.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHATTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHTT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292899</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Whitfield Theodore K JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1715 WEST 38TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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, Gen. Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000.000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2005 Stock Option Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.0900</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.5800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first exercise date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Whitfield, Jr, Theodore K.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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