Symbicort side effects

Hi there

I should start off by saying that I own a cat (my girlfriend's cat)and that I am allergic to cats. Exposure to cat brings on wheezing and well... asthma.
Years and years ago..another cat owning girlfriend... I used to use Advair along with a HEPA filter; it did the job quite well.

Fast forward to the present. I went to see my doctor and he prescribed the lower dosage Advair. It took the wheezing away but a side effect was constant phlegm, colorless, which results in my having to clear my throat a lot of the time and a wierd pulling sensation at the back of the throat...sort of like a delayed crawling sensation, I would almost say that it may be constricted.

I went back to my doctor and he took me off of Advair and put me on Symbicort///of course he told me that I should get rid of the cat. -- which of course my girlfriend understands is a possibility.-- I am on the 160/45 Symbicort one puff in the morning and one in the evening. Once again that pulling sensation at the back of my throat has started up and the phlegm is back; it has actually somewhat changed my voice! somewhat hoarser now.

Is there anything that I can do to alleviate these side effects? Are they common? Do I need a stronger dose. I want to do as much as possible before we decide that the cat has to go...but these side effects have me worried.

Thanks very much for help

George