Conor Mahon
MPSI — Superintendent Pharmacist & Joint, Bone & Sports Recovery Specialist
- PSI Registered Pharmacist (MPSI) — Reg. No. 12500
- Superintendent Pharmacist, Chemco Pharmacy
- Clinical focus: joint and bone health, musculoskeletal pain, sports recovery
- Active athlete — tag rugby and 5-a-side soccer
- Specialist in OTC pain relief, anti-inflammatory protocols and topical analgesics
- Joint supplement and collagen specialist — glucosamine, MSM, Peptan®, type II collagen
- Sports nutrition: magnesium, electrolytes, post-workout recovery
- Multi-location pharmacy governance and patient counselling
- Chemco Pharmacy, Ireland
“Whether it’s a Sunday-morning tag rugby ache or a chronic osteoarthritis flare in a sixty-year-old patient, the goal is the same — keep people moving. Joint pain, muscle recovery and bone health are pharmacy problems first. Most people don’t realise how much can be done at the counter before they ever need a referral.” — Conor Mahon, Pharmacist (PSI Reg. No. 12500), Chemco Pharmacy
Areas of Clinical Expertise
Joint, Bone & MSK Pain
- Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease
- Lower back pain — acute and chronic
- Knee, hip and shoulder pain
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Bone health and osteoporosis prevention
- Anti-inflammatory protocols (oral and topical)
- OTC pain relief — NSAIDs, topical analgesics, heat & cold therapy
Sports Recovery & Active Lifestyle
- Post-match and post-training muscle recovery
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) management
- Magnesium for cramping, sleep and recovery
- Electrolytes and hydration for endurance sport
- Collagen for joint, tendon and ligament support
- Turmeric and natural anti-inflammatory protocols
- Pre- and post-exercise supplement timing
Conor’s Story — Sports, Pharmacy & Keeping People Moving
I came into pharmacy through community practice, and the patients I saw most often weren’t the dramatic cases. They were the ones with a stiff knee, a sore lower back, a niggling shoulder that wouldn’t settle. People wanting to keep working, keep walking the dog, keep doing the things that make day-to-day life worth doing. I noticed quickly how much pharmacy could help them — and how few of them realised it.
I also play. Tag rugby and 5-a-side soccer aren’t professional sport, but they’re demanding enough to teach you about your body fast. After a year of weekly games I had personally tested most of the things I was recommending at the counter — magnesium for sleep and cramping, topical anti-inflammatories after a heavy session, collagen for an old knee complaint, electrolytes when matches ran into extra time. The recommendations got more specific. The conversations with patients got more useful.
That’s the angle I bring to Chemco. As Superintendent Pharmacist I’m responsible for the professional and regulatory standards across our retail pharmacy network — making sure every Chemco branch operates to PSI standards and delivers safe, accessible care. But the part of the job that gets me out of bed is the counter conversation. Joint pain, muscle recovery and bone health are pharmacy problems first, prescription problems second. Most people don’t realise how much can be done before they ever need a referral.
The Top 10 below isn’t a generic list. Six of them are commercial best-sellers in the joint, bone and recovery space at Chemco — the ones with the sales numbers to prove they work for patients. Four are category-essential products that any pharmacist working in MSK would recommend regardless of revenue. Combined, they cover every common scenario I see: from a teenage rugby player’s knee to a retired patient managing chronic arthritis.
Conor’s Top 10 — Joint, Bone & Sports Recovery
Personal recommendations from clinical practice and recreational sport. Blue tags indicate sports recovery use cases.
Fabu Joint & Bone Muscle Shrooms 60 Capsules
Chemco’s own FabU range — and the joint-bone supplement I recommend most often. A mushroom-based formula combining medicinal mushrooms with vitamin D, vitamin K2 and minerals that support bone density, joint comfort and muscle function in a single daily capsule. Differentiated from standard glucosamine products by the mushroom complex and broader spectrum. Good fit for active adults wanting a daily baseline rather than a single-target supplement.
Revive Active Joint Complex 30 Sachets
The premium daily joint sachet I recommend to patients who want one comprehensive product. Combines glucosamine, MSM, hyaluronic acid, Peptan® collagen peptides, type II collagen, turmeric and vitamin C — a near-complete joint protocol in one sachet. The clinical reasoning is the breadth: rather than picking one mechanism, it addresses cartilage support, anti-inflammation, connective tissue repair and antioxidant defence simultaneously. Higher price point, but the formulation justifies it.
PrizMag Pure Magnesium Bisglycinate 90 Capsules
The magnesium I personally take and recommend. Bisglycinate is the form most consistently associated with good absorption and tolerability — it doesn’t cause the digestive upset that magnesium oxide can. I see it work for three things in particular: muscle cramping (especially overnight calf cramping), sleep quality, and post-exercise recovery. For active patients and athletes it’s often the first supplement I add to a recovery protocol.
The best-selling liquid collagen at Chemco for good reason. A type 1, 2 and 3 collagen complex — type 1 and 3 support skin and connective tissue, type 2 specifically supports joint cartilage. Liquid format means higher bioavailability than tablets and a convenient daily dose. I recommend it to patients managing osteoarthritis, those with recurring tendon or ligament issues, and active patients who want joint support without taking multiple supplements.
Seven Seas JointCare + Turmeric Duo Pack 30+30 Tablets
The accessible-price-point joint supplement I recommend when budget is a factor. JointCare delivers glucosamine and chondroitin in clinical doses, and the bundled turmeric tablets add an anti-inflammatory component. For patients who want a structured starter protocol without the premium price of multi-nutrient sachets, this is the workhorse. Take consistently for 8–12 weeks before assessing effect — joint supplements aren’t fast-acting.
Voltarol 2% Extra Strength Gel 50g
The topical anti-inflammatory I recommend first for acute musculoskeletal pain — sprains, strains, lower back pain, joint flares. Diclofenac at 2% concentration in a topical gel: targeted to the painful area, minimal systemic absorption compared to oral NSAIDs, and a strong evidence base in MSK pain. Apply 4 times daily for the first 7 days of an acute injury for best effect.
The workhorse topical heat rub. Methyl salicylate and menthol create a counter-irritant warming sensation that increases local blood flow and reduces the sensation of muscle and joint stiffness. Different mechanism to Voltarol — not anti-inflammatory, but excellent for chronic muscle tightness, pre-warm-up application before sport, and stiff joints in cold weather. I use it before tag rugby in winter.
Thermacare Heat Patches Lower Back & Hip 2 Pack
Wearable, low-level heat for 8–12 hours. For acute or recurring lower back pain this is the most underused product in the pharmacy. Better than topical creams when the patient needs to stay active during the day — the patch goes under clothing and delivers sustained therapeutic warmth without re-application. Especially good for hip and lower back stiffness in office workers and post-sport recovery.
AYA Electrolyte Triple Pack Blackcurrant 60 Tablets
The electrolyte product I recommend to active patients and competitive athletes. Sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium in effervescent format — the four minerals that matter for hydration during and after exercise. Standard water replaces fluid but not the minerals you lose through sweat, which is why cramping happens even when you’ve been drinking. Drop one in a bottle pre-match or post-match. Three flavours available for variety.
Vitabiotics Ultra Turmeric 60 Tablets
Concentrated turmeric extract with curcuminoids — the active anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric. The evidence for turmeric in osteoarthritis and exercise-induced inflammation is good when the dose is right and the formulation includes bioavailability enhancers. The Ultra version is the formulation I trust. Useful as an adjunct alongside a primary joint supplement, or for athletes managing post-training inflammation without NSAIDs.
Condition by Condition — Quick Reference
The right starting point for each common joint, bone or sports complaint, from Conor’s clinical practice.
Osteoarthritis — Daily Management
Revive Active Joint Complex daily as a comprehensive base + Voltarol Gel on flare days. Allow 8–12 weeks before assessing supplement effect.
Shop Joint Complex →Acute Lower Back Pain
Voltarol Gel 4x daily + Thermacare heat patch through the day. Stay active where possible — bed rest worsens most lower back episodes.
Shop Heat Patches →Post-Match Muscle Soreness
PrizMag Magnesium that night + AYA Electrolytes during and after the match + Deep Heat the next morning. Reduces DOMS noticeably.
Shop Magnesium →Recurring Tendon & Ligament Niggles
Swedish Collagen Deluxe daily for at least 8 weeks. Connective tissue responds slowly — consistency matters more than dose. Pair with strength training.
Shop Collagen →Bone Health — Over 50 & Post-Menopause
Fabu Joint & Bone Muscle Shrooms or Osteocare daily. Vitamin D and K2 are non-negotiable. Resistance exercise matters more than any supplement.
Shop FabU Joint & Bone →Night Cramping
PrizMag Magnesium Bisglycinate one hour before bed. Most patients notice the difference within 7–10 days. Cheaper magnesium forms may not work.
Shop Magnesium →Knee Pain — Recreational Athletes
Swedish Collagen Deluxe + Ultra Turmeric as a base. Voltarol Gel on hard-training days. Build glute and hamstring strength to take load off the knee.
Shop Collagen →Match-Day Hydration
AYA Electrolytes one tablet 30 minutes before, one during half-time. Hydration determines cramp risk more than any other factor.
Shop Electrolytes →Chronic Joint Inflammation
Ultra Turmeric daily as an adjunct. Reduces reliance on oral NSAIDs over time. Combine with omega-3 for compounding anti-inflammatory effect.
Shop Turmeric →Pre-Warm-Up — Cold Weather Sport
Deep Heat Cream to the major muscle groups 5 minutes before warm-up. Increases local blood flow and reduces stiffness in winter conditions.
Shop Deep Heat →Qualifications, Training & Clinical Experience
Full Clinical Profile
- PSI Registered Pharmacist (MPSI) — Registration No. 12500 — Verify at thepsi.ie →
- Superintendent Pharmacist, Chemco Pharmacy — multi-location professional and regulatory governance
- Former Supervising Pharmacist, Chemco Pharmacy Bunclody
- Clinical focus on joint health, bone health and musculoskeletal pain management
- Specialist in OTC pain relief — oral NSAIDs, topical analgesics, heat & cold therapy
- Joint supplement & collagen protocols — glucosamine, MSM, Peptan®, type II collagen, hyaluronic acid
- Sports recovery & nutrition — magnesium forms, electrolyte balance, post-exercise supplementation
- Active recreational athlete — tag rugby and 5-a-side soccer
- Patient counselling & PSI standards compliance across the Chemco retail network
More from Conor & Chemco
Ask Conor or the Chemco Team
Questions about a joint or muscle problem, the right supplement for your sport, or how to combine products safely? Our PSI-registered pharmacists are available by phone and email.