Advair is a combination inhaler containing salmeterol (a bronchodilator) and fluticasone (a corticosteroid).

Fluticasone is a pretty standard steroid. If you have concerns about the long-term use of steroids, read this post by Dr. Fred Little about steroids. They're not as bad as people sometimes think.

The ingredient that has gotten press for being potentially harmful isn't the steroid, it's the salmeterol. Rarely, serious (sometimes fatal) asthma-related breathing problems have occurred with the use of long-acting inhaled beta agonists (e.g., salmeterol). Therefore, in patients with asthma, this drug should only be prescribed when one long-term medication (e.g., inhaled corticosteroids) does not control breathing problems or when more than one long-term medication is clearly needed to control breathing problems. Before using this medication, it is important to learn how to use it properly. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with this medication with your doctor.

If you have any concerns, you should talk to your doctor about taking something else. Click here to find a list of other anti-inflammatories and bronchodilators for the lungs.

Good luck!