Lamotrigine in Treating Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Chemotherapy in Patients With Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of cancer

• Received, or are currently receiving, neurotoxic chemotherapy, including any of the following:

• Taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel or docetaxel)

• Platinum-based compounds (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or oxaliplatin)

• Vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine or vinblastine)

• Experiencing pain or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy for at least 1 month attributed to chemotherapy

• Average daily pain rating of at least 4 out of 10 OR

• Peripheral neuropathy at least grade 1 out of 3 using ECOG sensory neuropathy rating

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Life expectancy

• At least 6 months

Hepatic

• Bilirubin < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No prior allergic reaction or intolerance to lamotrigine

• No extreme difficulty swallowing pills

• No other identified causes of painful paresthesia preceding chemotherapy, including any of the following:

• Radiation or malignant plexopathy

• Lumbar or cervical radiculopathy

• Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of another etiology, such as any of the following:

• Cyanocobalamin deficiency

• AIDS

• Monoclonal gammopathy

• Diabetes

• Heavy metal poisoning amyloidosis

• Syphilis

• Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism

• Inherited neuropathy

• No significant psychiatric illness (e.g., mania, psychosis, or schizophrenia) that would preclude study participation

• Able to complete questionnaires

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics

• More than 7 days since prior methotrexate or other dihydrofolate inhibitors

Other

• More than 7 days since prior, and no concurrent use of any of the following:

• Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or desipramine)

• Concurrent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors allowed

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

• Opioid analgesics

• Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin, topiramate, valproic acid, or clonazepam)

• Adjuvant analgesics (e.g., mexiletine)

• Prior nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs allowed

• Topical analgesics (e.g., lidocaine gel or patch) to the affected area

• Amifostine

• More than 30 days since prior investigational agents for pain control

• No other concurrent investigational agents for pain control