Combined pill
Althea pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Althea (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg)
Quick answer
Althea (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg) is a combined pill with the same active ingredients and dose as Diane-35. It is used for moderate to severe hormone-related acne and excess hair, and it also prevents pregnancy.[src]
A 21-tablet pack costs from ₱537, against ₱695.75 for Diane-35. It needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.).
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 ₱537 a pack
Althea pairs ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (An anti-androgen progestin in Diane-35, Althea and Cybelle.), an anti-androgen progestin. It belongs to the group EMA calls "Diane 35 and its generics": pills with this exact combination, which EMA kept on the market for women with moderate to severe androgen-related acne or excess hair growth (hirsutism).[src] So everything EMA says about Diane-35, including the clot warning, applies to Althea too.
The difference from Diane-35 is price, not strength. At the pharmacies we checked, Althea costs from ₱537 (Rose Pharmacy), with a suggested retail price of ₱540 listed by Find My Method.[src][src] Diane-35, the Bayer original, starts at ₱695.75, and Cybelle, the third brand with this formula, starts at ₱525. All three come as 21 tablets with a 7-day break. Our research does not name Althea's maker, so check the box if that matters to you.
One thing to ignore: some pharmacy blogs describe Althea as usually over the counter. It is not. Every listing we checked, including Watsons, marks it prescription required.[src][src]
Althea price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱537.00 | October 2026 |
| WatsonsPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱540.00 | October 2026 |
| SRP (Find My Method)Prescription required | 21 tablets | ₱540.00 | 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 Althea. It costs about ₱12 less a pack, roughly ₱156 a year. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if switching is right for you.
How to take Althea
Take one tablet a day at about the same time for 21 days, following the arrows on the strip. Then stop 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. Start the next strip on day 8, even if you are still bleeding. There are no inactive or iron tablets in an Althea pack, so you count the 7 days yourself.
If you are switching from Diane-35 or Cybelle to Althea, the formula is the same, so the main thing is timing: ask your doctor or pharmacist how to switch so your break stays at 7 days. A break longer than 7 days counts like missed pills in WHO's guidance.[src]
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 doctor may name a specific day. Check your dates with the When am I protected? calculator.
If you miss a Althea pill
Althea 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 HelperAlthea side effects and what Filipinas worry about
Early side effects are the usual combined-pill ones: spotting between periods, sore breasts, nausea, headaches and mood changes, mostly settling within 3 months.[src] Acne often looks the same or a bit worse in the first pack before it improves. Track it with the side effect tracker so you can show your doctor real dates, not just a feeling.
Because Althea is a Diane-35 generic, EMA's clot finding applies: the risk of blood clots in the veins is 1.5 to 2 times that of levonorgestrel pills like Trust (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol), though still small.[src] It is not suitable if you smoke and are 35 or over, have had a clot, or get migraine with aura.[src] Chest pain, a swollen painful leg or sudden breathlessness are emergencies.
Nakakataba ba ang Althea?
Not in a large way, according to the evidence. A Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials found no large effect of combined pills on weight,[src] and the NHS says there is no evidence the pill makes you put on weight.[src] Early bloating or a bigger appetite happens to some and usually settles. If it lasts past 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 moreAlthea for acne and PCOS
EMA's review covers Diane-35 and its generics, so it covers Althea. Its approved use is moderate to severe androgen-related acne or excess hair in women of reproductive age, after skin treatments and antibiotic tablets have not worked well enough.[src] Althea already works as birth control, so it should not be taken together with another hormonal contraceptive; doubling up raises the clot risk.[src]
For PCOS, Althea can help with acne and hair and gives a predictable bleed, but it does not treat the cause, and acne can return after you stop. Expect several cycles before judging whether it works for your skin. See pills for acne for how it compares.
Who should not take Althea
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
Althea 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.
Althea FAQ
Nakakataba ba ang Althea?
Ayon sa Cochrane review, walang malaking epekto sa timbang ang combined pills tulad ng Althea. May iba na nakakaramdam ng bloating o gutom sa unang mga buwan, na kadalasang nawawala. Kung tuloy pa rin pagkalipas ng 3 buwan, kausapin ang doktor.
Is Althea over the counter?
No. Althea is a prescription medicine in the Philippines, and Watsons, Rose Pharmacy and the other listings we checked mark it prescription required. Some blogs say otherwise; they are wrong. You can get a prescription from a doctor in person or by teleconsult.
What is the difference between Althea and Diane-35?
The active ingredients and doses are the same: cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg, 21 tablets. The difference is the brand and price. Althea costs from ₱537 and Diane-35 from ₱695.75 at the pharmacies we checked. Ask your doctor before switching.
How long before Althea clears acne?
Acne usually takes several cycles to improve, and the first pack can bring new bumps. Give it a few months as prescribed and review it with your doctor.
Pwede bang sabay ang Althea at ibang pills?
Hindi. Contraceptive na ang Althea. Ayon sa EMA, hindi ito dapat isabay sa ibang hormonal contraceptive dahil tumataas ang risk ng blood clot.
Can I get pregnant on Althea?
It is unlikely if you take every tablet on time and restart after exactly 7 days. Most pregnancies on the pill come from missed pills or a late restart. If you missed tablets, use the Missed Pill Helper.
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
- Contraceptive pill in the Philippines, Find My Method
- Explainer: Philippine Pharmacy Act and prescription medicines, Interaksyon (Philstar), 25 Apr 2024