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

You may be eligible if

• 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