High-dose Prophylactic Gabapentin (HOPE) vs. Placebo to Prevent Opioid Use for Oral Mucositis Pain During Concurrent Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologic documentation of disease: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region. \* Stage: I-IV * No prior treatment for head and neck cancer * Planned treatment with cisplatin-based chemoradiation therapy (weekly or once every 3 weeks \[q 3 week\]) * Able to swallow capsules whole * No known hypersensitivity to gabapentin or its ingredients * No patients on dialysis or with transplanted organs * No prior surgery or radiation for head and neck cancer and/or are being treated for recurrent head and neck cancer. Patients with a history of surgery and radioactive iodine for the treatment of thyroid cancer are eligible. Concurrent cancer therapy for other cancers is not allowed * No planned surgery or chemotherapy or immunotherapy following 7 weeks of standard chemoradiation treatment * No known brain metastases * No nonprescribed use of any opioids (including heroin) within 6 months prior to registration * No prescribed medications for chronic and/or long-term pain and/or neuropathy, including patients under treatment of a pain specialist or substance abuse programs. Acute post-biopsy medications are allowed if the patient has discontinued them 3 days prior to study registration * No current treatment with mefloquine * Age ≥ 18 years * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Not pregnant and not nursing, because this study involves both radiation and chemotherapy. In ad…