Dianette is a combination of an oestrogen and an anti-androgen.Your body makes both male and female sex hormones. Male hormones (androgens) stimulate the grease-glands in your skin and hairs that grow from it. If you produce too much androgen or if you are particularly sensitive to their effects, the grease-glands may produce too much sebum. This can block the grease-glands, which can become infected and inflamed causing acne spots. The main action of a special hormone in this medicine (cyproterone acetate) stops androgens affecting the skin. Your medicine also reduces the amount of hormones, including androgens, which are produced.
Dianette can also be used in women only to treat severe acne which hasn't improved after the long-term use of oral antibiotics and excessive hair growth on the face and body (moderately severe hirsutism).
I have a private prescription
If you have a prescription for Dianette please add the correct amount of tablets to your basket
I do not have a prescription
If you do not already have a prescription for Dianette then please visit Pharmacy2U's recommended provider of Online Doctor consultations. Here you will find more information on Dianette.
Pharmacy2U can only dispense a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) if your order is accompanied by a valid UK prescription issued by your doctor, consultant or other medical practicioner. Details of where to send the prescription will be issued with your unique order number at the confirmation page.
Start with a pill marked with the correct day of the week. After taking the first pill, take one pill each day, following the direction of the arrows, until you have finished all 21 pills in the pack. You should try to take the pill at the same time each day. Swallow each pill whole, with water if necessary. After you have taken all 21 tablets, you have 7 days when you take no tablets. A few days after you have taken the last pill from each pack, you will have a period. Your periods will be regular, probably lighter than before and almost always painless. The feelings that often make the last days before a period unpleasant usually disappear. You will not have to take extra contraceptive precautions during the 7 day break from taking the pill as long as you have taken your pills correctly and start the next pack on time.
Each tablet contains 2mg of the anti androgen, cyproterone acetate and 35 micrograms of the oestrogen, ethinylestradiol. Each tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients- lactose, maize starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate (E572), sucrose, polyethylene glycol 6,000, calcium carbonate (E170), titanium dioxide (E171), glycerol (E422), montan glycol wax, yellow ferric oxide pigment (E172).
You must not take this medication if you are pregnant or breast feeding, you or any member of your family have suffered from blood clots, you or family member had a stroke, abnormal blood cells, disorders of blood fat, cancer of the breast or of the lining of the womb, if you have abnormal bleeding, diabetes, liver tumours, liver disease or allergic to any of the ingredients. Please advise your doctor or GP if you are taking any medication. Please read the leaflet enclosed. Keep out of the reach and sight of children.