Combined pill
Diane-35 pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Diane-35 (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg)
Quick answer
Diane-35 (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg) is a combined pill made by Bayer. In Europe it is licensed for moderate to severe acne and excess hair growth linked to androgens, and it also works as birth control.[src]
A 21-tablet pack costs from ₱695.75 and needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.). Althea and Cybelle have the same formula and cost less.
Key facts
- Generic name
- cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg
- Type
- Combined pill (estrogen + progestin)
- Pack
- 21 tablets: 21 hormone, then a 7-day break
- Prescription
- Required in the Philippines
- Price this month
- From ₱695.75 a pack
Diane-35 combines ethinylestradiol, the estrogen in most pills, with cyproterone acetate (An anti-androgen progestin in Diane-35, Althea and Cybelle.), a progestin that also blocks the effect of androgens (male-type hormones) on the skin and hair. That anti-androgen effect is why it is so often prescribed for acne and for PCOS-related acne and hair growth in the Philippines. The European Medicines Agency reviewed it in 2013 and kept it on the market for women with moderate to severe androgen-related acne or excess hair, not as a first-choice pill for contraception alone.[src]
Bayer makes Diane-35. Two cheaper brands have exactly the same active ingredients and dose: Althea (from ₱537) and Cybelle (from ₱525), against ₱695.75 for Diane-35 at the pharmacies we checked.[src][src] All three come as 21 tablets with a 7-day break. If you have been on Diane-35 for years and the cost adds up, ask your doctor whether a same-formula brand is fine for you. Our cheaper twin finder shows the full list.
Filipinas with PCOS on Reddit often weigh Diane-35 against Yaz (drospirenone + ethinylestradiol), and experiences go both ways: clearer skin for some, mood changes or no change for others.[src] That is experience, not evidence. The choice depends on your skin, your health history and your doctor's assessment.
Diane-35 price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatsonsPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱695.75 | October 2026 |
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱696.00 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
Same formula, lower price: Cybelle
Cybelle has exactly the same active ingredients and dose as Diane-35. It costs about ₱170.75 less a pack, roughly ₱2,220 a year. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if switching is right for you.
How to take Diane-35
Take one tablet a day at about the same time, following the arrows on the strip, for 21 days. Then take no tablets for 7 days. Your withdrawal bleed (The bleed during the inactive or break days of a pill pack. It is not a true period.) usually comes during this break. On day 8, start the next strip even if you are still bleeding. Diane-35 has no inactive or iron tablets, so the break is counted on the calendar, not on the pack.
The break is the part people get wrong. Starting a new strip late makes the hormone-free gap longer than 7 days, and WHO treats a late start like missed pills.[src] Put the restart date in your phone, or use our pill tracker.
When to start: the WHO handbook says you can start a combined pill within the first 5 days of your period with no extra protection, or on any other day if you are reasonably sure you are not pregnant, using condoms for the first 7 days.[src] Your leaflet and your doctor may name a specific start day. See your dates with the When am I protected? calculator.
Licensed in Europe for moderate to severe acne and excess hair growth linked to androgens, with contraception as a side benefit.
If you miss a Diane-35 pill
Diane-35 is a 30 to 35 mcg combined pill. If you miss 1 or 2 hormone pills, take one as soon as you remember and carry on: WHO says there is little or no risk of pregnancy. If you miss 3 or more in a row, take one now, use condoms for 7 days, and if it happened in the last hormone week, skip the break or inactive pills and start a new pack.
If you had sex in the last 5 days and missed pills, talk to a doctor today about emergency options. If unsure, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Open the Missed Pill HelperDiane-35 side effects and what Filipinas worry about
In the first 3 months some people get spotting, sore breasts, nausea, headaches or mood changes, which usually settle.[src] A common surprise on Diane-35 is that acne does not clear right away. Filipinas on Reddit describe new bumps during the first pack;[src] EMA notes that improvement takes time, and your doctor should check after a few cycles.[src]
The safety point that matters most: EMA found the risk of blood clots in the veins with Diane-35 is 1.5 to 2 times higher than with levonorgestrel pills such as Trust (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol). The risk is still small, but it is why Diane-35 is not for smokers over 35, people with a past clot, or migraine with aura.[src][src] Chest pain, a swollen painful leg or sudden breathlessness need emergency care.
Nakakataba ba ang Diane-35?
The evidence says no large effect. A Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials found no large weight change from combined pills,[src] and the NHS says there is no evidence the pill makes you put on weight.[src] Some people feel bloated or hungrier in the first months. If it still bothers you after 3 months, talk to your doctor. Basahin sa Taglish.
Diane-35 o Yaz para sa acne?Which pill helps acne or PCOS?
Cyproterone acetate pills (Diane-35, Althea, Cybelle) are approved for moderate to severe androgen-related acne and excess hair, usually after other treatments. They should not be combined with another hormonal contraceptive. Acne often takes a few cycles to improve and can return after stopping.
Read moreNakakataba ba ang pills?Do pills make you gain weight?
Reviews of placebo-controlled trials have not found a large effect of combined pills on weight. Some people notice bloating or a bigger appetite in the first months, which usually settles. Weight changes over time with or without pills, which is why only controlled trials can answer this. The injectable (DMPA) is the one method with evidence of weight gain in some users.
Read moreDelikado ba ang pills?Are pills dangerous? What about blood clots?
The risk of a blood clot on the combined pill is real but small. Combined pills are not suitable for smokers 35 and over, people with migraine with aura, a past clot, high blood pressure and some other conditions. Chest pain, leg swelling or sudden breathlessness are emergencies.
May kamahalan ang pills.Pills are too expensive.
Prices range widely, and several cheaper brands have the exact same formula as the expensive ones. Pills, injectables, implants and IUDs are also free at public health facilities, subject to supply.
Read moreKailangan ba ng reseta?Do I need a prescription for pills?
Yes. Birth control pills are prescription medicines in the Philippines under RA 10918. Some pharmacies used to sell them without a reseta, but since 2024 most ask for one. You can get a prescription from a doctor in person or online, or get pills free at your barangay health center.
Read moreDiane-35 for acne and PCOS
EMA's review set out who Diane-35 is for: women of reproductive age with moderate to severe acne linked to androgens, or excess hair (hirsutism), when skin treatments and antibiotic tablets have not worked well enough.[src] It is also a contraceptive, so it should not be combined with another hormonal contraceptive. Taking Diane-35 together with Trust, Yaz or another pill adds estrogen and raises the clot risk.[src]
With PCOS, Diane-35 can help acne and hair growth and gives you a regular withdrawal bleed, but it does not fix PCOS itself. Many people find acne comes back after stopping, which is something to plan with your doctor before you start.[src] More on choices in pills for acne.
Who should not take Diane-35
Who should not take it
Combined pills may not be safe for you if:
- You smoke and are 35 or older
- You get migraine with aura (flashing lights or zigzags before a headache)
- You have had a blood clot in a leg or lung, or a stroke
- You have high blood pressure
- You gave birth less than 6 weeks ago and are breastfeeding
- You have some heart, liver or diabetes conditions
Combined pills may not be safe for you. Talk to a doctor. A progestin-only pill, implant or IUD is often an option instead.
Common side effects
Spotting between periods, sore breasts, nausea, headaches and mood changes, mostly in the first 3 months. Most settle within about 3 months. More on side effects.
When to get urgent help
Go to an emergency room now for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, coughing blood, a painful swollen leg, a sudden severe headache, vision changes or weakness on one side.
Check the product is registered
Buy only from licensed pharmacies. You can look up a product on the FDA Philippines verification portal.
Same formula, different price
Cyproterone acetate 2 mg + EE 35 mcg. Same active ingredients and dose; pack and inactive tablets can differ.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Diane-35 needs a prescription in the Philippines. Pick the route that suits you. For adults 18 and over.
Free at a health center
Barangay health centers, RHUs, DOH hospitals and Likhaan. Subject to supply.
See an OB-GYN in person
Clinic visit, prescription in hand. Bring it to any licensed pharmacy.
Online consult
A licensed doctor by video or chat. From ₱700 on some platforms.
Online consult options
For adults 18 and over. Fees are set by each provider and can change.
Diane-35 FAQ
Diane pills nakakataba ba?
Walang malaking epekto sa timbang ayon sa mga pag-aaral ng combined pills (Cochrane review). Ang NHS ay nagsasabing walang ebidensya na nakakataba ang pills. May iba na nakakaramdam ng bloating o gutom sa unang buwan. Kung tuloy pa rin pagkalipas ng 3 buwan, kausapin ang doktor.
Diane-35 or Yaz for PCOS acne?
Diane-35 contains cyproterone acetate and is the one with the European acne and excess hair licence we cite (EMA). Yaz has a different progestin, drospirenone. Experiences on Reddit go both ways. Your doctor will weigh your skin, health history and clot risk before choosing.
Is Althea the same as Diane-35?
Yes, Althea and Cybelle have the same active ingredients and doses as Diane-35 (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg), in the same 21-tablet pack. They differ in price: Diane-35 from ₱695.75, Althea from ₱537, Cybelle from ₱525 at the pharmacies we checked.
Why do I still have pimples on my first pack of Diane-35?
That is common. Acne usually takes several cycles to improve on Diane-35, and some people get new bumps in the first month. Keep taking it as prescribed and review progress with your doctor after a few packs.
Babalik ba ang acne pag nag-stop ng Diane?
Puwede. Marami ang nakakapansin na bumabalik ang acne pagkatapos itigil ang Diane-35. Pag-usapan ito sa doktor bago magsimula o huminto, para may plano ka sa skin care pagkatapos.
Can I take Diane-35 with Trust or another birth control pill?
No. Diane-35 already works as a contraceptive. EMA says it should not be combined with another hormonal contraceptive because that raises the risk of blood clots.
Do I need a prescription for Diane-35?
Yes. Diane-35 is a prescription medicine in the Philippines and every pharmacy listing we checked asks for one. You can get a prescription from a doctor in person or by teleconsult.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Benefits of Diane 35 and its generics outweigh risks in certain patient groups, European Medicines Agency
- Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Managing missed pills (Family Planning Handbook), WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Combined pill: risks and side effects, NHS
- Combined pill: who can and cannot take it, NHS
- Combination contraceptives: effects on weight (Gallo et al.), Cochrane / PubMed
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy
- Diane 35 or Yaz?, r/PCOSPhilippines
- Explainer: Philippine Pharmacy Act and prescription medicines, Interaksyon (Philstar), 25 Apr 2024