Combined pill
Charlize pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Charlize (levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg, with iron tablets)
Quick answer
Charlize (levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg, with iron tablets) is a combined pill: 21 hormone tablets and 7 iron tablets in a 28-tablet pack.
It has the same hormones and doses as Lady, costs from ₱73, and needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.).
Key facts
- Generic name
- levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg, with iron tablets
- Type
- Combined pill (estrogen + progestin)
- Pack
- 28 tablets: 21 hormone, 7 iron
- Prescription
- Required in the Philippines
- Price this month
- From ₱73 a pack
- Same formula
- Lady
Charlize is the iron-tablet version of the Lady formula. The 21 hormone tablets match Lady and Microgynon 30 in active ingredients and dose; the last 7 tablets are ferrous fumarate (iron), with no hormones.[src][src]
The difference from Lady is price and the confirmed iron tablets. Watsons listed Charlize at ₱73, and Find My Method gives the same suggested price, against ₱53.25 for Lady.[src] Trust (levonorgestrel 125 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg) also has iron tablets but a lower levonorgestrel dose, so it is a cousin, not a twin. Our research does not name Charlize's maker.
Charlize price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatsonsPrescription required | 28 tablets | ₱73.00 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
Same formula, lower price: Lady
Lady has exactly the same active ingredients and dose as Charlize. It costs about ₱19.75 less a pack, roughly ₱257 a year. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if switching is right for you.
How to take Charlize
Take one tablet a day at about the same time, following the arrows. After the 21 hormone tablets come the 7 iron tablets (The brown tablets in packs like Trust. They contain iron, not hormones.); your withdrawal bleed (The bleed during the inactive or break days of a pill pack. It is not a true period.) usually comes during these. Start a new pack the next day with no gap. The iron days keep the daily habit going, so there is no break to count.
When to start: WHO says you can start a combined pill within the first 5 days of your period with no extra protection, or any other day if you are reasonably sure you are not pregnant, using condoms for the first 7 days.[src] Follow your leaflet and doctor if they name a day.
If you miss a Charlize pill
Charlize 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 HelperCharlize side effects and what Filipinas worry about
The first 3 months can bring spotting, sore breasts, nausea, headaches or mood changes, which usually settle.[src] Levonorgestrel pills are the lower clot-risk comparison point EMA uses for other combined pills, but Charlize is still not for smokers 35 and over or people with migraine with aura.[src][src]
Nakakataba ba ang Charlize?
No large effect, per a Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials,[src] and the NHS says there is no evidence the pill causes weight gain.[src] Early bloating or appetite changes usually pass within a few months.
Nakakataba 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 moreMabubuntis ba pag mali ang pag-inom ng pills?I missed a pill. Can I get pregnant?
Missing 1 or 2 combined pills carries little or no risk if you take one as soon as you remember and carry on. Missing 3 or more in a row (2 or more for 20 mcg pills like Yaz) means using condoms for 7 days. The Missed Pill Helper walks you through it by brand.
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 moreWho should not take Charlize
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
Levonorgestrel 150 mcg + EE 30 mcg. Same active ingredients and dose; pack and inactive tablets can differ.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Charlize 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.
Charlize FAQ
Is Charlize the same as Lady?
The hormone tablets are the same: levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg. Charlize's last 7 tablets are listed as iron. Charlize costs from ₱73 and Lady from ₱53.25 at the pharmacies we checked.
What are the 7 iron tablets in Charlize for?
They are ferrous fumarate and contain no hormones. They keep you taking one tablet every day, and your withdrawal bleed usually comes during them.
Is Charlize the same as Trust?
No. Both have iron tablets, but Trust has 125 mcg of levonorgestrel and Charlize has 150 mcg. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Nakakataba ba ang Charlize?
Ayon sa Cochrane review, walang malaking epekto sa timbang ang combined pills. May iba na nakakaramdam ng bloating sa unang buwan, na kadalasang nawawala.
Do I need a prescription for Charlize?
Yes. Charlize is a prescription medicine in the Philippines. You can get a prescription from a doctor in person or online, or ask about free pills at your barangay health center.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, 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
- Benefits of Diane 35 and its generics outweigh risks in certain patient groups, European Medicines Agency
- Microgynon 30, Hello Doctor
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Contraceptive pill in the Philippines, Find My Method
- Managing missed pills (Family Planning Handbook), WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy