In CBT4PANIC, it states that it is best if you try CBT before you try meds and see if that works best because you are trying to prove to yourself that the panic can do you no harm. If you do the treatment on meds, you may be unsure whether your recovery is due to the meds or the CBT, so you may lose confidence when you come off them (this must be what that woman meant). However, if you are in a really bad state you might want to take the meds to help you "engage" with the CBT. Thats what it says in there anyway, not word for word. I'm sure Mr Hall will pitch in with his own thoughts sooner or later.