Getting pills
Can I buy Trust pills over the counter?
Quick answer
No. Trust pills (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol) are a prescription medicine, and every pharmacy listing we checked asks for a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.).[src][src]
The confusion comes from the brand name. Trust condoms and the Trust pregnancy test are sold without a prescription. The pills are not.
One brand, three kinds of product
"Trust" is a family of products from DKT Philippines, and only some of them are medicines.[src] That is why a pharmacist may hand you Trust condoms at the counter but ask for a prescription for Trust pills.
| Trust product | Prescription? | Price checked |
|---|---|---|
| Trust pills (28 tablets) | Yes | From ₱59.50 a pack |
| Trust condoms (3s) | No | ₱38.75 to ₱53.75 |
| Trust pregnancy test | No | ₱64.75 |
Condoms and tests are on the Watsons Trust brand page next to the pills, with no prescription step.[src]
Retailer by retailer
- Watsons: the Trust listing says "[PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED]". You order, email the prescription with your order number, and show the original when it arrives.[src]
- TGP: Trust is tagged Rx, and you must upload a prescription before checkout.[src]
- Rose Pharmacy: Trust sits under Prescription Pharmacy, Contraceptive Agents.[src]
- Mercury Drug and Southstar: no public online price pages, so we could not check their listings. Expect the same rule.
Filipinas on Reddit describe being surprised at the counter: "kanina sa watson bumili ako ng trust pills hinanapan ako ng reseta".[src] Some branches were looser than others for a while, but that is not something to plan around.
Why it changed
Pills were always prescription medicines on paper under RA 10918, the Philippine Pharmacy Act.[src] Enforcement tightened in April 2024, after a viral Cebu pharmacy video about a blood pressure medicine led the pharmacists' association to remind members of the rules.[src] Pharmacists who sell prescription drugs without one risk their licence.[src]
Your legal options today
- Free at a health center. Combined pills are free at barangay health centers and RHUs, subject to supply.[src] The brand depends on what they have. See what to expect at the health center.
- Teleconsult. An online OB-GYN consult costs from ₱700 and gives you an e-prescription you can upload.
- In-person doctor. Ask for several months of packs on one prescription.
Running out tomorrow? Use condoms in the meantime, and if you missed hormone pills, check the Missed Pill Helper.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Trust pills need 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.
Frequently asked questions
Pwede bang bumili ng Trust pills nang walang reseta?
Hindi na. Prescription medicine ang Trust pills at hinahanapan na ng reseta sa Watsons, TGP at Rose. Ang Trust condoms at pregnancy test lang ang walang reseta. Puwedeng kumuha ng libreng pills sa health center.
Is a Trust prescription expensive to get?
It can be free. Barangay health centers give pills and counselling at no cost, subject to supply. A teleconsult is another option if you prefer a specific brand.
Can a pharmacist give me Lady instead of Trust?
Not without your doctor. Lady has a different levonorgestrel dose. Ask your doctor to write a brand you can find, or a backup brand.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Trust pill listing: Prescription Required, Watsons PH
- Rx Trust pill listing, TGP
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy
- DKT Philippines, DKT International
- TIL kailangan pala ng reseta buying Trust pills, r/todayIlearnedPH
- Explainer: Philippine Pharmacy Act and prescription medicines, Interaksyon (Philstar), 25 Apr 2024
- PH pharma group reminds public on regulations after Cebu incident, Cebu Daily News, Apr 2024
- DOH reminds public family planning services are free at public hospitals, Daily Tribune, 12 Jul 2025