I have had anxiety and panic attacks for years. I have been taking Xanax and doing fine. I did not take it every day ,usually .5 mg when anxiety symptoms appeared, but if I had a full blown panic attack sometimes I would take 1 mg. I have never taken more than 1 mg in a day. My psychiatrist passed away and my new psychiatrist changed my prescription to BusPirone because I am 77 years old and she said BusPirone is a safer drug for anxiety for elderly even though I have had not problems with the Xanax for decades. She prescribed ½ of 15 mg tab for a week twice a day and then it increased to 2 of the whole 15 mg tab twice a day. I have been taking it now for 8 days. I noticed on the 2nd day with the ½ tab a sort of whooshing sound in my ears and my left ear was stopped up like when you have been flying in an airplane. The whooshing ( which also sound like brush straws drumsticks playing softly and slowly on a jazz drum tempo) and stopped up left ears lasts for about 30 minutes or so after I take the BusPirone. I also experience mild nausea. Are these typical side effects of BusPirone? I did not have any side effects from the Xanax. Thank you for your help.