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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2001-07-12</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-01-15</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003116</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AKORN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AKN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001033150</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAPOOR JOHN N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>225 EAST DEERPATH ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60045</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Debt (Tranche A)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2002-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Debt (Tranche B)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2001-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-07-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On December 31, 2002, K&amp;A Capital Investments, L.P (the &quot;Limited Partnership&quot;) reassigned to the John N. Kapoor Trust, dtd. 9/20/89 (the &quot;Trust&quot;) $1,000,000 of the principal amount of a $3,000,000 Convertible Promissory Note dated July 12, 2001 (the &quot;Tranche A Note&quot;) which the Trust had assigned to the Limited Partnership on July 1, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Trust and the issuer entered into a Convertible Loan and Warrant Agreement under which the $2,000,000 principal of the note (the &quot;Tranche B Note&quot;) is convertible into common stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This amendment is being filed to report that, in addition to principal, accrued interest on the Tranche A Note and the Tranche B Note will be converted into a right to receive common stock at a price of $2.28 per share (in the case of the Tranche A Note) or $1.80 per share (in the case of the Tranche B Note) to the extent that principal and accrued interest remain unpaid.  Each accrual will therefore increase the number of shares that may be acquired or disposed of under the reported derivative security.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Securities held through various limited partnerships and trusts.  Dr. Kapoor disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John N. Kapoor</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
