Every day at the counter we answer the same great questions — so we wrote the answers down. Every guide below was written at Laois Pharmacy in Portlaoise, reviewed by our pharmacist, and most include a free interactive checker or calculator.
💶 Paying for medicines
Schemes most people are entitled to and many never use.
What does a medical card cover at the pharmacy?The €1.50 charge, the €15 family cap, and what’s not covered.What-will-I-pay checker
The Drug Payment Scheme explainedNo household pays more than €80/month — no means test.Savings calculator
Is the morning after pill free in Ireland?Free for ages 17–35 and medical card holders. Timing and how it works.Eligibility checker
Is HRT free in Ireland?What the scheme covers and the 3 steps to get it.3-step guide
The Drug Payment Scheme explainedNo household pays more than €80/month — no means test.Savings calculator
Is the morning after pill free in Ireland?Free for ages 17–35 and medical card holders. Timing and how it works.Eligibility checker
Is HRT free in Ireland?What the scheme covers and the 3 steps to get it.3-step guide
🩺 What the pharmacy can treat
More than you think — often without a GP visit.
Can a pharmacist prescribe antibiotics?Yes — for 8 walk-in conditions including UTIs and conjunctivitis.Condition picker
Do I need a prescription for that?Viagra, codeine, inhalers, weight-loss injections and more.Instant lookup
Our walk-in Common Conditions ServiceAssessed and treated in our private consultation room, €35.2-minute symptom checker
Do I need a prescription for that?Viagra, codeine, inhalers, weight-loss injections and more.Instant lookup
Our walk-in Common Conditions ServiceAssessed and treated in our private consultation room, €35.2-minute symptom checker
💊 Using medicines safely
The questions everyone Googles at some point.
Can you take paracetamol and ibuprofen together?Yes for most adults — the exact safe way, plus the child rules.Adult/child guide
Can you drink alcohol on antibiotics?Honest answer: depends entirely on which antibiotic.Antibiotic lookup
With food or without? And missed dosesWhy timing matters and the missed-dose rule.Timing lookup
Can you drink alcohol on antibiotics?Honest answer: depends entirely on which antibiotic.Antibiotic lookup
With food or without? And missed dosesWhy timing matters and the missed-dose rule.Timing lookup
🍂 Seasonal health
Ready before you need them.
Back to school health checklistThe 8 things every family press should hold by September.Tick-off checklist
Flu vaccine: who gets it free?Ages 60+, children 2–17, pregnancy, long-term conditions.Eligibility checker
Cold vs flu vs CovidHow to tell them apart — and the red flags.Symptom checker
Which cough medicine actually works?Dry vs chesty vs tickly — match the remedy to the cough.Cough picker
Hay fever survival guideWhat works, in what order, for Irish pollen season.Pharmacist guide
Flu vaccine: who gets it free?Ages 60+, children 2–17, pregnancy, long-term conditions.Eligibility checker
Cold vs flu vs CovidHow to tell them apart — and the red flags.Symptom checker
Which cough medicine actually works?Dry vs chesty vs tickly — match the remedy to the cough.Cough picker
Hay fever survival guideWhat works, in what order, for Irish pollen season.Pharmacist guide
⚖️ Weight management
Straight answers on GLP-1 medicines — GP-first, always.
Ozempic vs Wegovy vs MounjaroSame molecule? Different doses? Full comparison with Irish prices.Comparison table
Keeping the weight off afterwardsWhat the maintainers do differently.6-habit checklist
Our Weight Management ServiceSame-day dispensing from stock, monthly support.Free BMI eligibility calculator
Keeping the weight off afterwardsWhat the maintainers do differently.6-habit checklist
Our Weight Management ServiceSame-day dispensing from stock, monthly support.Free BMI eligibility calculator
Can’t find your question?
Ask us directly — a pharmacist reads every message, and there’s no such thing as a silly question.