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Monday 8:30am - 7pm Tuesday 8:30am - 7pm Wednesday 8:30am - 7pm Thursday 8:30am - 7pm Friday 8:30am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

https://www.facebook.com/875891842473667/

Balally Pharmacy, Sandyford Shopping Centre, Blackthorn Drive Sandyford D16V2P 5, Dublin (2026)

25/04/2026

As a small independent family owned pharmacy, local support is vital to keeping us in business and part of the local community in Sandyford 💚

Surrounded by chain pharmacies makes this very challenging but we know we’ve got something very special and unique 💪

The excellent service, no upselling. Just evidence based advice explained simply. We take the time to get to know YOU. We focus on looking after you. Not meeting sales targets.

Honestly we don’t take it personally though if you choose to go elsewhere. People make mistakes 😜😂

Follow me for great free evidence based advice throughout the week with a healthy prescription of no nonsense good humour.

Laughter is the best medicine 💊 😂

Tom the Pharmacist

22/04/2026

Prevention is always better than cure. And sunscreen is one of the simplest evidence based things we can do for long term skin health😎☀️

Over the next few weeks I’m starting a new mini-series on sun protection because honestly, most people I see in the pharmacy are choosing SPF based on marketing, not understanding what really actually matters.

This week:
☀️ What SPF numbers REALLY mean
☀️ UVA vs UVB explained simply
☀️ Why the UVA logo matters
☀️ Do you get what you pay for?
☀️ Are all SPF50 products equal?
☀️ Why texture and daily use matter more than people think

As a pharmacist, one of the biggest misconceptions I see is people assuming all sunscreens offer the same protection because the bottle says SPF50. Or all sunscreen suits your skin. Or your daily life.
Newsflash. They don’t.

👉The marketing machines behind sunscreen lies sneakily between cosmetic skincare and medicine. So hopefully this post will help you make an informed decision best for you. Knowledge is power ☀️💪😎

The “best” sunscreen isn’t necessarily the most expensive one either 👀

Sunscreen only works as well as you apply it. You need to apply enough, reapply every two hours and top up again after swimming or sweating. Two good finger lengths of sunscreen should cover the face and neck. So you need quite a lot for a full body on holiday 🏖️

More important than ever is protecting exposed skin whatever the weather when the UV index is above 3. Even on cloudy days. Even in your car, working outside and even at your desk by a window 🙏

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my 🆓Sunscreen Product guide. What to look out for when choosing a brand based on evidence & facts not hype☀️

I share 🆓 evidence based Pharmacist’s advice throughout the week with mini guides for more detail.

👉Follow so you don’t miss out and save this for when you’re next stocking up on sunscreen.

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️Always consult your own doctor and pharmacist
For sun care advice if on medication or you notice any sun damage or changes.

21/04/2026

Ever hear of Lichen Sclerosus (LS)? Many women have not. Yet I see predominantly menopausal women come into the pharmacy every day looking to buy otc treatments for thrush. Very similar symptoms too. Easy to confuse.

We discussed last week here on ‘The Menopause Prescription’ weekly series, GSM (genitourinary syndrome of menopause) where women are convinced they have a UTI or cystitis. With good reason. Again symptoms over lap.

But LS is different. It’s a chronic skin condition affecting the vulvar tissues “down below”. It’s not contagious. Intensive itching along your vulv@ very similar to thrush. If you examine yourself you can see skin discolouration. White patches are common. Or you could be intensely red with cracked skin like paper cuts. The irritation can go along the outside from your clitørís all the way to the back p@ssage ( Meta ban me if I use correct spellings 🤬)

👉Lichen Sclerosus is not just uncomfortable. It can cause significant issues if left undiagnosed and incorrectly treated. It is considered a precancerous skin condition.

🙌The great news is that it is very treatable with the correct prescription strength topical ointment.

I have a guide on LS to support this post. Just comment BELOW and I’ll send it straight to you.

Please 🙏 ask for advice in the pharmacy if you think this could be you before you reach for the thrush cream again. Please go to your GP for an actual examination and diagnosis. This is key to success.

Please send this to any woman you know who may not realise her thrush isn’t actually thrush. This condition can’t stay in the shadows any longer 🙌

I will tag a great page to follow here on Instagram too. The actual guide contains further evidence based advice from expert dermatologists.

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️General advice only. Please consult your own doctor and pharmacist for personal advice.

20/04/2026

Misinformation online is a serious disease my friend. My belief was that it was largely pushed by creators looking for likes and follows at any cost. Click bait if you will.

Nothing prepared me for the vitriol this weekend though. I spent my weekend policing comments like a pharmacist hawk. It wasn’t the creators spreading lies and misinformation. It was regular people. Health misinformation appears to have infected so many. Many patients avoiding treatments their medical specialists prescribe. Others intent on ensuring innocent viewers doggedly accept their opinion as fact.

I am determined to keep showing up. To show that not everything is a conspiracy. That reading medical literature is a skill. Interpretation of findings is key. Not just honing in on one point. Balance and reflection. Evidence based.

So I will take my wife’s advice quoting a line from The Handmaids Tale “don’t let the b@stards grind you down”. I have dusted myself off and my mission continues. To serve YOU 🙏

👉If you are genuinely interested in healthcare and medicines advice throughout the week, follow along for my straight talking advice.

If you like drama, you can always scroll on! This is a safe place for all. Facts over hype. Risks v benefits.

Normal service continues tomorrow!

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️.

18/04/2026

Never in a million years did I expect this pharmacy page to blow up to 100K followers in just 7 months 🙌🥳🎉 but that’s exactly what happened this week.

What started as a passion project in response to the unending misinformation out there has flipped my career on its head. My mission was and remains very simple.

👉To share evidence based health and medicines information. Simply. No fancy pharmaceutical terms. Just no nonsense and straight talking. I see every day the consequences of this misinformation online and someone has to take a stand.

This page shares up to the minute research findings. Tips and tricks to navigate through your health journey. From cradle to grave. It really is that simple.

I think we have built this amazing community together because you see the misinformation online just like me. You’re a truth seeker.
A red flag for me is affiliate codes, sponsored ads or endorsing a product you manufacture. That’s definitely not unbiased even if the product is a good one. Especially from a health care professional in my opinion 🚩

From the bottom of my heart thank you for trusting me with your most precious gift. Your health 💚

🙏 My opinion is not for sale. I will remain unbiased and do the reading & sharing of the literature for you. I’ll also have a bit of fun along the way with you! My guides will remain free as always.

One last thing. I’m a full time pharmacist running our family owned community pharmacy. Not an instababe! There is a wonderful professional team behind me in the dispensary with the same ethos and standards💚 Being an independent pharmacy we do things a little differently. Our way.
You may even be served throughout the week by one of my family! See can you spot the family resemblances🤣

Most of all you can have 🆓 professional advice by just dropping in to us face to face. Or pop in just to say hi 👋🏻. We love meeting the followers of our page! Our door is wide open.

Tom the Pharmacist.

17/04/2026

Testogel dosing difficulties for women in HRT is our highlight question of the week on my Ask Tom series on stories every Thursday night.

Testosterone is a hormone found in both men and women and declines with age. It can also be the last piece of the puzzle for women on HRT.

Unfortunately we do not have a specific testosterone product licensed for use in Ireland specifically for women and may only be prescribed for very low libido😡.

👉As a pharmacist this is very frustrating and even more so for my patients. Using a product designed for a man and expecting women to guess the much smaller required dose is not good practice.
Even a tiny dose too much can cause unwanted side effects.

🩷Androfeme is available in Ireland but is not licensed for use here yet. It can import it on your behalf with a prescription from specialist menopause clinics if deemed necessary. Even then all oestrogen and progesterone options must be fully optimised. It isn’t covered on the free HRT scheme either 😢

I have linked another reel on testosterone as HRT as part of a series on the different types of HET available .
💬 I also have a free guide on testosterone if you comment TEST

👉I answer a wide variety of questions on health & medicines every Thursday.
💚Make sure to follow me so you don’t miss out!

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️General advice only. Always consult your own doctor and pharmacist

16/04/2026

Statins get blamed for a lot. Yes side effects may happen. That’s the same for all medications.

👉But here’s the part the scare mongers don’t talk about. Statins are one of the most evidence based well researched medicines we have for reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes.

In Ireland, 1 in 4 deaths is due to cardiovascular disease. Those who live with the conditions suffer long term disability and significant decreases in quality of life and independence 😱

Most people tolerate the statin well. If you don’t? Well you have options!

✔️ Lower dose
✔️ Different type of statin
✔️ Different dosing prescribed

💬 Comment STATIN and I’ll send you my 🆓 quick checklist on statin side effects and what to do if you notice any.

👉My message is this. As a pharmacist I see people stop their statin suddenly or don’t review their prescription out of fear or due to some side effects. Without a doctor’s review. Without discussing options. Then months or years later it’s a very different conversation.

🙏It’s not about ignoring side effects or powering on through. You have options! But fearing the statin more than the condition you’re treating is not logical to me. The evidence is very clear that statins save lives and reduce damage you can’t even see internally.

⚠️The many comments received on this post questioning my qualifications, ethics, morals and professional standards will continue to be reported and deleted. I will leave the comments open to facilitate the sharing of evidence based advice. Backed and endorsed by all world health authorities and boards of cardiologists. My opinion is not bought or paid for and I share this advice to dispel misinformation.

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️..

⚠️General advice only. Always consult your own doctor and pharmacist who knows your history. .

15/04/2026

Hayfever isn’t just annoying. If you’ve got asthma, it’s a trigger. 80% of asthma sufferers also suffer from hayfever. 10-40% of hayfever sufferers go on to develop asthma.

Manage it early, or you risk a potentially fatal asthma flare up 🫁

In this week’s The Wellness Prescription series where I look at ways to prevent rather than cure, we are focusing on preventing hayfever to avoid an asthma flare up.

As a pharmacist with 34 years experience I see it year round every year with uncontrolled allergic rhinitis (hayfever)causing asthma flare ups. This can result in much more medical intervention, more medication, possibly hospital admission or for some it can prove fatal 😱.
As Spring is in the air full of tree pollen right now, managing your hayfever and asthma should be your top priorities. Prevention is better than cure.

I have a 🆓 pharmacist’s guide to managing and controlling your symptoms. How your pharmacy can help you. It includes links to the amazing with heaps of evidence based guides and access to 🆓 nurse and physio advice. Just comment ASTHMA and I’ll send it to your DMs.

So what actually works? 👇
✔ Start treatment early before pollen peaks
✔ Use nasal steroids daily not just when symptoms hit. Ask your pharmacist
✔ Add antihistamines if needed
✔ Reduce pollen exposure where you can
✔️ Update your asthma plan
✔ Stay consistent with your asthma inhaler

This is prevention. Not damage control.
Because once symptoms hit, you’re already behind.

👉I share evidence based health and medicines advice throughout the week so make sure you’re following so you don’t miss out. Lots of extra info on stories every day.

Did you know pharmacies involved in the Common Conditions Service from the HSE can offer access to assessment, diagnosis and prescription medication for allergic rhinitis same day for a reduced fee like with your GP? Regular OTC advice remains free of charge.

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️General advice only. Please consult your own doctor, pharmacist or specialised nurse for personal advice.

14/04/2026

As a pharmacist, this is one of the most common menopause issues I see daily.
👉Women coming into the pharmacy to purchase OTC products to relieve what they are convinced is either thrush, cystitis or UTI. And it may well be you do have any of those nasty conditions 😢

Most women will reach middle age having experienced these symptoms at least once before and just reach for the treatment that helped in that case.

💡 But what if I told you it could also be something else? It’s not just dryness or irritation?

It’s called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)and it can affect both the v@gina AND the bladder. Which means symptoms can include👇
• dryness, irritation or burning
• pain with s*x
• needing to pass urine more often
• urgency
• recurrent UTIs

Low oestrogen in perimenopause and menopause affects the tissues of the v@gina, urethra and bladder. Even to the back p@ssage

The good news?
There is a targeted treatment that works directly where it’s needed. It’s v@ginal oestrogen & suitable for most women 👇

• restores tissue thickness
• improves moisture
• helps rebalance pH
• supports healthy bacteria & vaginal biome.

👉 Which means it can improve BOTH vaginal and urinary symptoms.
And no, it’s not the same as full body HRT.

It’s low dose, local treatment with minimal absorption into the bloodstream. For many women, it’s life-changing.

But here’s what I see all the time.
❌ Repeat antibiotics
❌ Women given HRT but no vaginal therapy
❌ Women stopping too soon
❌ Women thinking it “didn’t work”

👉 When actually, it often just wasn’t used correctly or long enough or you just needed to tweak the formulation.

💬 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my free guide on vaginal oestrogen and GSM

This is not a short-term fix.
It’s usually long-term treatment until your last breath. If you stop, symptoms often come back.

👉If this sounds like you, you’re not imagining it
and you’re definitely not alone.
Share this with someone you know who may benefit. The more women who hear this message the better🙏

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist

⚠️Education only. Not personalised advice

13/04/2026

As a pharmacist I know I make a difference. It’s a perk of the job. A privilege I don’t take lightly.

Many still believe pharmacists just stick a label on a box and hand it out 😱. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Pharmacists are highly trained medicine experts 💊. We are the safety valve between your doctor prescribing your medication and you. Your prescription is cross checked that it’s appropriate for your condition, it’s safe at the dose prescribed and it doesn’t interact with any other medications you may take.

In a world gone mad with supplements that aren’t regulated like medicines, I feel strongly that pharmacists are there to help you decide what’s safe & what’s not. Your doctor may not even be aware you’re taking a supplement because you think it’s “natural”.

In my pharmacy you won’t ever be sold a product that you don’t actually need. No upselling. I don’t do sponsored ads or affiliate links. This is my way of ensuring my opinion is unbiased for you. If it doesn’t help I’ll tell you straight.

Community pharmacy to me is feeling a connection. We’re all in this together from the cradle to the grave. I get to know my patients, their families, their pets and what’s going on in their world. The social side of being a pharmacist is just as important as the handing over your medication.

So yes. I make a difference. I can make a difference for you too. Wherever you are in the world, sharing knowledge is power. Helping you advocate for yourself. If you’re in Ireland you can pop into me any time if you have a concern, just want a chat or advice or need your prescription dispensed. We post countrywide.

If you would like more no nonsense advice, just hit the follow button to access lots of free healthcare advice throughout the week. Stories are full of bonus content during the week 💚

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️.

11/04/2026

Sourcing pharmacy only products for my patients is my super power ⚡️

If you have a favourite product you find hard to get or specialist prescribed medication off license just get in touch.

Not all heroes wear capes 🦸

Remember laughter is the best medicine 💊

Tom the Pharmacist
•

09/04/2026

Detox products flaunted on social media are a gimmick. There I said it.
Your liver and kidneys are perfectly capable of doing the job of "detoxing" you. That's their job. If they're not functioning correctly then you need a hospital and some specialist medical teams.

As a pharmacist, most "detox" teas available in Ireland are just blends of:
• Liquorice
• Dandelion
• lemon
• Green tea extract
• Milk thistle
⚠️Some contain turmeric & black pepper extract

These may cause
• Water loss
• Or at worst interference with medication absorption
On their own these ingredients are mild but add in prescription medication, daily use or higher concentrations and these ingredients can

👉Raise blood pressure
👉Affect potassium levels
👉Reduce how well your meds work

What is riskier are detox supplements designed for weight loss. An unregulated market.
They contain SENNA, a stimulant laxative. So diarrhoea but your medication passes through you too quickly. Medicines like contraceptives and HRT will be affected.
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL binds medication so the drug has a harder job of getting into your bloodstream to work.

🍃 Natural does not always mean safe
Your liver and kidneys already detox your body every single day safely. You don't need these products but if you do choose to use them please be aware of what you're buying.

Most people don't realise, that's why I made this checklist on potential drug interactions. Just comment DETOX and I'l send it to you.
Were you aware of the side effects of detox teas?
Share this with a friend who may not be in the know or save for future reference

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist

General advice only. Always consult your own pharmacist in relation to your medication.

Balally Pharmacy

25/04/2026

22/04/2026

21/04/2026

20/04/2026

18/04/2026

17/04/2026

16/04/2026

15/04/2026

14/04/2026

13/04/2026

11/04/2026

09/04/2026

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Monday	8:30am - 7pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 7pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 7pm
Thursday	8:30am - 7pm
Friday	8:30am - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 1pm