Chest x rays and Gabapentin

My 13 years old cat needed chest X-rays today and she’s never had X-rays done before so I was nervous and asked how they would handle her and keep her still. The vet tech could see I was concerned said I could come back and look through the window to see how it would be done. I was weary when I heard they were just going to hold her down but figured they know what they’re doing. I was able to watch for a little bit before the doctor said that we weren’t actually allowed back there, which was annoying but whatever. So they scruffed my cat’s neck and two people laid her on her side by holding her front and back paws. She started screaming bloody murder like I’ve never heard before and started hissing, scratching, and biting. I’ve never given her sedatives prior to vet visits and I was really shook to see her act like that. They ended not being able to get all the X-rays needed because she wasn’t cooperating.

I know the way the vet handled her is a typical technique but surely there’s another method? It looked a little rough. I have to take her in again but this time on gabapentin. Not thrilled about having to drug her like that. With every unpleasant experience she has it gets harder and harder to take her to the vet. Also, as she gets older I’m worried about stressing her out like that. Is gabapentin worth using before every vet visit?