I would like to know what kind of response people have had using
either Flovent or Advair.

I have been using Flovent (220 ug / 2 x daily) for several years
(using a spacer device), along with an Advair 100 2 x daily.  I have
not gotten very good results from that and have had terrible problems
with hoarseness.

Last week my Dr. switched me to Advair 500 2 x daily.  It seems to
work better (and doesn't give me the hoarseness problem), but I don't
really understand why.

Theoretically, I was getting 1080 ug of Flovent per day (220 ug x 4
plus 100 ug x 2).  However, I read the prescribing information, and
according to the data for Flovent and Advair, the Flovent inhaler has
about a 30% absorption rate, while the Advair only has about 17%.

Therefore, at my previous dosages, I was getting 264 ug of Flovent
(220 x 4 x 30%) per day from the inhaler, plus 34 ug (100 x 2 x 17%)
from the Advair.  By changing to the Advair 500, I am actually only
getting 170 ug of Flovent (500 x 2 x 17%) which is only about half of
what I was getting before.

I know that at some level, the correct answer is "Who cares? It
works."  But unless I am mistaken in my understanding of the
prescribing information, I shouldn't be feeling better because I am
actually getting less medication.

Has anybody else had similar results, and am I mistaken in my
understanding of the information?

Thanks.