Combined pill
Cybelle pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Cybelle (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg)
Quick answer
Cybelle (cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg) is a combined pill with the same formula as Diane-35 and Althea, used for moderate to severe hormone-related acne and excess hair, and as birth control.[src]
At ₱525 for 21 tablets it was the lowest priced of the three when we checked. 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 ₱525 a pack
Cybelle is one of the generics covered by EMA's review of Diane-35: same ethinylestradiol, same cyproterone acetate (An anti-androgen progestin in Diane-35, Althea and Cybelle.), same dose. EMA's conclusions on who it is for and on clot risk apply to it in full.[src]
What sets Cybelle apart is price. Watsons listed it from ₱525 and Rose Pharmacy at ₱526.25, against ₱537 for Althea and ₱695.75 for Diane-35.[src][src] The pack is the same shape too: 21 tablets, then a 7-day break. Our research does not name Cybelle's maker. If you are on Diane-35 for the long term, ask your doctor whether Cybelle would work for you.
Cybelle price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatsonsPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱525.00 | October 2026 |
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱526.25 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
How to take Cybelle
One tablet a day at about the same time for 21 days, following the arrows. Then 7 days with no tablets, when your withdrawal bleed (The bleed during the inactive or break days of a pill pack. It is not a true period.) usually comes. Start the next strip on day 8. There are no inactive tablets to keep you in the habit, so set a reminder for the restart day; a break longer than 7 days counts like missed pills.[src]
When to start: WHO says a combined pill can be started 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, with condoms for the first 7 days.[src] Follow your leaflet and doctor if they name a day.
If you miss a Cybelle pill
Cybelle 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 HelperCybelle side effects and what Filipinas worry about
Expect the usual early combined-pill effects for some people: spotting, sore breasts, nausea, headaches, mood changes. They usually settle within 3 months.[src] EMA found the clot risk for this formula is 1.5 to 2 times that of levonorgestrel pills, still small, so it is not for smokers 35 and over or anyone with a past clot or migraine with aura.[src][src]
Nakakataba ba ang Cybelle?
No large effect, per a Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials of combined pills,[src] and the NHS says there is no evidence the pill causes weight gain.[src] Early bloating can happen and usually passes.
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 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 moreCybelle for acne and PCOS
EMA's approved use for Diane-35 and its generics, Cybelle included, 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. It should not be combined with another hormonal contraceptive.[src]
It can help PCOS-related acne and hair, but it does not treat PCOS itself, and acne can return after stopping. More in pills for acne.
Who should not take Cybelle
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
Cybelle 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.
Cybelle FAQ
Is Cybelle the same as Diane-35?
Yes. Cybelle, Althea and Diane-35 all contain cyproterone acetate 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg in a 21-tablet pack. Cybelle costs from ₱525, Diane-35 from ₱695.75 at the pharmacies we checked.
Is Cybelle less effective because it is cheaper?
No. The active ingredients and doses are identical. Price differences come from the brand, not the strength.
Can I switch from Diane-35 to Cybelle?
Many people can, since the formula is the same. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first, and time the switch so your 7-day break does not get longer.
Pwede ba ang Cybelle sa PCOS?
Puwedeng makatulong ang Cybelle sa acne at sobrang buhok na dulot ng androgens, na madalas sa PCOS. Pero hindi nito inaayos ang PCOS mismo. Doktor ang magsasabi kung bagay ito sa iyo.
Do I need a prescription for Cybelle?
Yes. Cybelle is a prescription medicine in the Philippines. Watsons and Rose Pharmacy list it as prescription required.
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