Primary Objectives:
\- To determine whether gabapentin used as a preventive measure during chemoradiation can reduce radiation-induced mucositis associated pain in head and neck cancer patients as measured by: 1) pain scores on the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey (VHNSS version 2.), and 2) analgesic use.
Secondary Objectives:
* To assess the safety (grade 3 or 4 adverse events) and tolerability of using gabapentin (discontinuation of drug due to side effects - yes or no)
* To correlate pain severity with frequency and severity of general systemic symptoms.
Exploratory Objectives:
\- To determine whether pain control is associated with weight loss (in pounds) and duration of use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy utilization (in days).
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM I: Standard of Care (usual care) - Patients receive consisting of oral health measures, oral rinsing, miracle mouthwash, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and opioid analgesics. Patients also undergo an education session at the beginning of chemoradiation treatment to review foundations of oral care and pain management.
ARM II: Standard of Care plus Gabapentin - Patients receive standard of care and undergo an education session as in Arm I. Patients also receive gabapentin orally (PO) three times a day throughout chemoradiation treatment (approximately 5-7 weeks) and until mucositis resolves and pain subsides.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up monthly for 3 months.
