-----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,
 U3IPNv0yLkWO+3gXTxKezO7uAHiH6gxD+HSes5x06I9/OtOmKhh83OLmC7vdbWRv
 wir9kBV6OIvo18DW0wfQ/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-006481.txt : 20080324
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-006481.hdr.sgml : 20080324
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080324104038
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-006481
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080320
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080324
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080324

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AKORN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000003116
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				720717400
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			LA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 MILLBROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			BUFFALO GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472796100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 MILLBROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			BUFFALO GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60089

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAPOOR JOHN N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001033150

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32360
		FILM NUMBER:		08706133

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 EAST DEERPATH RD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 250
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7704429707

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 E DEERPATH RD STE 250
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-20</periodOfReport>

    <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>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.6721</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28212979</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>491173</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Securities held through various limited partnerships and trusts.  Dr. Kapoor disclaims beneficial ownerhip of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rao Akella, as Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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