Perhaps you could see the neurontin as "training wheels" until you can use cognitive skills or the 12 steps to prevent or relieve a panic attack...
Panic attacks can be overwhelming and in and of themselves might make you more likely to relapse?
I abused pills... But I was unsupervised and used them to adjust myself, for any little reason... Now, if I were to be prescribed pills, I would see them as a bridge to being completely chemical free, or, a way to prevent abusive use of other chemicals.
Just my 2 cents
Mark