Balally Pharmacy

Balally Pharmacy Independent family run pharmacy located in Sandyford Dublin 16. Tom McKenna is the Pharmacist owner since 2014.

We have a wonderful highly qualified team instore. I have over 30 years experience and I’m a dad of four. Vaccine Information: email [email protected]

29/05/2026

✨Shingles is our highlight question of the week from my weekly series Ask Tom Q&A on stories every Thursday night.

Shingles is a very nasty virus and can cause significant long term nerve pain (post herpetic pain) long after the rash disappears requiring strong pain killers.

The more outbreaks of shingles and the older you become, the higher your risk of these complications.

Shingles vaccination has over 90% success rate. Those who do get shingles despite vaccination are also far less likely to get a severe dose and complications are generally reduced.

Promising research shows a possible link between the shingles vaccine and reduction in dementia also. More research is required but it’s it’s a great bonus in addition to preventing shingles.

In Ireland, anyone over 50 years or over 18 and immunocompromised is advised to vaccinate against shingles but sadly the HSE does not cover the cost so it’s a private vaccination. This I find ridiculous when the cost to the state for reimbursement of the anti viral medications and pain killers is very high. Different countries will have different age groups and reimbursement agreements.

The second you suspect you may have shingles, please go straight to your pharmacy or GP 🙏. At this stage you may not feel unwell. But the sooner you get treatment, the lower your risk of complications will be. Pharmacists under The Common Conditions Service can prescribe antiviral medications and many pharmacies also offer the Shingrix shingles vaccine.

I hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️Educational content only. Always consult your own doctor or pharmacist for advice

Bone Loss Prevention is part of my series ‘The Wellness Prescription’ where prevention is always better than cure! As a ...
27/05/2026

Bone Loss Prevention is part of my series ‘The Wellness Prescription’ where prevention is always better than cure!

As a pharmacist working full time I see the consequences of ignoring this silent disease. You think all is well. You fall. Fracture a bone and only then do you discover you have osteopaenia or osteoporosis.

Others are more lucky and have a DEXA scan that measures your bone density before you break something. This is more common in menopause.

Despite a diagnosis of bone loss, there is so much you can do to prevent your bone loss getting any worse 💪. You do not have to sit on the sidelines and expect this to just go into free fall decline.
No gimmicks. No potions. No influencer nonsense. Just practical advice easily done from home.

👉My message here is simple. Don’t wait for a fracture to happen. You can PREVENT this from happening. You do not have to become a statistic. 1 in 2 women over 50 will break a bone. This is largely preventable but sadly these evidence proven tips are boring and out of sight out of mind. If you can’t see the bone damage does it even exist right?

I have a 🆓 guide on bone health just comment BONES and I’ll send it straight to you.

👉Were you aware of the importance of looking after your bones? Tell me your experience in the comments.

Check out excellent 🆓 resources from , , and .

I have included a link to the FRAX online tool in my guide to assess your risk of fracture.

Share this with a friend who may need a reminder and follow so you don’t miss out on more evidence based advice 🙏

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️
⚠️Always consult your own doctor or pharmacist for advice. .

26/05/2026

Sequential HRT in perimenopause is this week’s ‘The Menopause Prescription’ episode.

This type of HRT is typically the first type of HRT a woman will experience in early perimenopause if she still has her periods. Even erratic ones! Typically if your last menstrual period is under 12 months.

👉Sequential just means 2 weeks of JUST bioidentical estradiol patches.
👉Then approximately 2 weeks of BOTH estradiol and a progesterone component.

So why change mid way through the month?
Primarily to protect the lining of your uterus (womb) by shedding and progesterone can also help your overall mood and sleep.

✨Did you know this? Did anyone ever explain this to you? Let me know.

I have a free quick guide for you to save explaining sequential HRT and red flags to watch out for.

✅Just comment GUIDE and I’ll send it straight to you.

If you don’t follow me yet, I share lots of 🆓 health and medicines advice throughout the week. Stories are where I share the most valuable content!

If you know a friend who needs to know about HRT just share this now 🙏

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️.
⚠️General advice only. Always talk to your doctor and pharmacist for advice specifically for you.

25/05/2026

If you are going to worry about your health please make sure your information is coming from trusted sources 🙏.

If all your sources of information are from online scaremongering it can cause unnecessary worry and delay actual diagnosis.

You could drive yourself crazy thinking you have every symptom and every medication is bad for you.

More often than not the answer is very simple! Trust experience and knowledgeable healthcare providers over online “gurus” with an affiliate code. We are in healthcare with the best of intentions.
To help YOU 💚

Sometimes all you need is a pharmacist who understands you🥰
Who takes the time to explain your medication 💊. Who liaises with your doctor to find the best prescription for you.
Who sits down with you and goes through all your medication from different doctors and figures out exactly what you need and what’s overlap.
Who is just a listening ear and directs you to trusted sources of evidence based advice.

Your local pharmacist is a medicine expert and a highly trusted healthcare professional 💚

My door is open for you to come in and have a chat. Even if you’re not a patient in our pharmacy.

👉I share valuable free advice online throughout the week with free guides to accompany many of my educational posts.

So give me a follow if you’re not yet part of my tribe and see what you’ve been missing out on!

I hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️.

23/05/2026

People ask me why as a pharmacist I’m on social media. Or what business do I have being on social media. Or could I just do a reel on XYZ it will only take a minute!

All very valid questions and points!

Honest answer is I just love my job. I’m only on social media 8 months and I’ve learnt so much. I knew the misinformation online was immense. I honestly didn’t realise it was as bad as it is.

That misinformation came into the pharmacy daily. Across all different health topics and medicines. I would explain why those “quacks” online were only trying to sell them products which could delay diagnosis and treatment.

As a pharmacist being online allows me to help fill the gap between quacks and science. Health information based on hard evidence and science. Not profit. I am not sponsored. I don’t do ads. No affiliate links. If I recommend a product it is based on extensive research and patient recommendations.

So as Kim K says it IS a full time second job! It’s definitely not as easy as it looks! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. It helps to simplify my work life by being able to direct my patients to actual facts.

👉If you follow me, I do an Ask Tom on stories every Thursday. Throughout the week I cover a wealth of topics with 🆓 guides to explain in more detail or direct you to evidence based sources of information.

👉If you want straight talking no nonsense advice on health and medicines, just follow for more.

Share this with a friend who may need some sound advice.

Pharmacy doesn’t always have to be so serious. Remember laughter is the best medicine 💊 😂

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️.

22/05/2026

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is our highlight question of the week. Every Thursday on stories I answer many different questions across all health topics in my Ask Tom series.

Erectile dysfunction is far more common than many men realise. It’s not always “just ageing.”

Sometimes it’s temporary. Sometimes stress, anxiety, depression, tiredness or alcohol play a role.

But sometimes ED can be an early clue that something else is going on under the surface 👇

🚩 High blood pressure
🚩 Diabetes or pre diabetes
🚩 High cholesterol
🚩 Cardiovascular disease
🚩 Medication side effects (including some antidepressants and blood pressure medicines)
🚩 Smoking, alcohol, weight or hormonal issues

The good news? There are treatment options.

Here’s something many men don’t seem to realise

👉If one over the counter ED treatment doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t necessarily mean they all won’t. Different medicines work slightly differently and timing, food, alcohol and dose can all matter.

But safety first ⚠️

👉ED medicines are not suitable for everyone and can interact with some medicines, particularly nitrates used for angina and some heart conditions.

👉Buying online without necessary consultation and from a trusted pharmacy is dangerous ⚠️

That’s why pharmacy matters 💊

👉A pharmacist can have a confidential, judgement free conversation, help choose the safest option, check for interactions and spot when further medical review might be needed.

You genuinely do not need to be embarrassed. We talk about this far more often than you think 😊

Follow for evidence based no nonsense health & medicines advice throughout the week 💚

If you know someone who is suffering in silence I’m here to help. Share this with them or pop into me where you will be listened to and advised with empathy.

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️General advice only. Always consult your own doctor or pharmacist for advice specifically for you.

21/05/2026

🍄 The latest wellness trend? Mushroom supplements for everything from brain fog to menopause symptoms.

I’m not anti supplement 👏 Some people genuinely feel benefit. But I very strongly believe in taking a supplement only when you’re deficient. Otherwise it’s expensive urine or can do more harm than good.

As a pharmacist, here’s my gentle reality check 💊

👉Not all supplements are backed by strong evidence.
👉They’re not regulated to the same standards as medicines. They’re actually classified as food!
👉Claims made don’t have to be proven
👉quality can vary between brands & batches
👉some can interact with prescription medicines.
👉the ingredients & percentages listed aren’t necessarily correct.
👉we don’t have enough quality studies comparing these specific supplements to common prescription medications.

Before spending €€€ on the latest “miracle” wellness trend, I’d always ask:

✔️ What’s the evidence?
✔️ Is there a genuine deficiency or cause we’re missing? (Think iron, B12, thyroid, vitamin D 👀)
✔️ Could it interact with my medicines?
✔️ Is there a better evidence based option?
✔️Always ask your pharmacist first.

“Natural” doesn’t always mean harmless. Expensive doesn’t always mean effective 😜

Did you know this about supplements?
Let me know in the comments.

👉I share evidence based health and medicines advice throughout the week. If this sounds of interest to you just follow so you don’t miss out.

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️.
⚠️General advice only. Always consult your own doctor or pharmacist for advice specifically for you.

Hair falling out? Low ferritin could be one reason but social media isn’t always telling you the full story. 👉As a pharm...
20/05/2026

Hair falling out? Low ferritin could be one reason but social media isn’t always telling you the full story.

👉As a pharmacist, I’m seeing more and more women worried about hair shedding, thinning hair and ferritin levels. Understandably.

And yes, low ferritin (your stored iron)can contribute to hair loss in some women. Blood tests may show your iron levels are good. Your ferritin levels may also be within normal range for general function.

BUT 👇

Hair loss is multifactorial.
Sometimes ferritin is part of the puzzle 🧩

Here’s the bit no one talks about enough though.
Ferritin is not a magic number.

👉Very low ferritin may contribute to shedding, but there is no single agreed ferritin level guaranteed for healthy hair growth.

👉A ferritin level above 15 will be signed off by your doctor as ‘normal’ for everyday general health but when hair loss is involved, we want to see ranges of 50-70, some experts want 70-100!

However sometimes the real drivers may be:
✨ Pregnancy & Post Partum
✨ Perimenopause & menopause
✨ Thyroid changes
✨ Stress
✨ Chronic illness or after surgery
✨ Bowel dysfunction like IBD or coeliac
✨ Rapid weight loss
✨ Low protein intake
✨Poor nutrition
✨B12 and B vitamin deficiencies
✨Heavy periods

Please don’t start iron supplements just because you saw it online 😱.

⚠️Iron should only ever be supplemented based on blood test results and following consultation with your doctor.

👉Too much iron is not harmless and low ferritin deserves proper investigation.
In Ireland we have a high rate of haematomochrosis and too much iron is not safe.

COMMENT ‘IRON’ and I’ll send you my
🆓 evidence based guide on ferritin induced hair loss and iron supplementation.

Save this because future you (or your thinning ponytail 😭) may thank you later. If you know someone struggling with every snake oil to grow their hair, please share this 🙏

Just know there are treatments available once the true cause of your hair loss is diagnosed 🙌

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

⚠️Educational purposes only. Please consult your own doctor or pharmacist.

19/05/2026

Nobody warned women in their 40s about THIS.

If you’re in perimenopause and taking one of the newer injectable medications for weight management, there are some REALLY important things to know about the pill, contraception and HRT.

👉Because perimenopause does not mean pregnancy can’t happen.

In fact, some women may start ovulating MORE regularly again with weight loss and improved insulin resistance.

👉Some injectable weight loss medications may affect how well oral contraception works, especially during starting or dose increases. This applies primarily to Mounj.aro.
Semi.Glutide hasn’t been shown to affect delayed gastric emptying the same way but caution is still advised.

If you’re taking:

💊 The Oral Contraceptive Pill
💊 HRT (especially oral progesterone)
this is worth knowing.

This is NOT about panic 🚨

It’s about being informed and making sure your treatment still works for YOU.

Please discuss this with your doctor as there are some steps you can take to enable you to stay on both types of medication.

I’ve put together a simple pharmacist guide covering:

✅ contraception advice
✅ the pill + injectable weight loss medications
✅ HRT considerations
✅ what the menopause experts say
✅ when to get things reviewed

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send it to you now 📩

And please share this with a friend in her 40s because I guarantee most women haven’t been told this yet 🙏

As many women may be prescribed HRT from one doctor and injectable medication from another, it is important both doctors are aware. Let me know if this is new information to you?

Hope this helps?

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

18/05/2026

If I’d waited until I felt “ready” I’d probably still be waiting. ❤️
I’ve been a pharmacist for 34 years. I know how to run a pharmacy inside out. I know medicines like the back of my hand. I know how much trust people place in us every single day 🥰

But social media? 😅 That was a whole different prescription. Way outside my comfort zone. Born in an era before the internet and mobile phones!

Back in September 2025, I took a leap. Not because I had it all figured out. Far from it. I started because I wanted to build something better for our little community pharmacy. To educate. To cut through the nonsense. The misinformation I faced daily when my patients came in the door saying they were told X,Y,Z online. Was it true Tom?

I wanted to make healthcare feel more human, more accessible, and maybe even make you laugh along the way 💊😂. Zero tolerance for ads, sponsorship or affiliate links. My opinion based purely on evidence and experience. Not who was paying me to share healthcare advice.

Since then we’ve grown into weekly Q&As, chatted on a podcast, developed multiple free guides, had conversations I never imagined having, and a community I genuinely care so much about ❤️

And behind the scenes? I’m not standing still. I’m redeveloping the pharmacy, investing in a dispensing robot, and building something I hope will serve our community even better for years to come. More dedicated consultation areas. A more accessible highly professional team to share their knowledge with you.

👉Turns out excellence isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, learning, improving, getting it wrong sometimes and doing your best over and over again💪

So if there’s something you’ve been putting off because you don’t feel “ready”

This is your sign to start ❤️

Tom the Pharmacist 🧑‍⚕️

Address

Sandyford Shopping Centre, Blackthorn Drive Sandyford D16V2P 5
Dublin
D16V2P5

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+35312954084

Website

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