DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of cancer

  • CNS malignancy allowed with the exception of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

• Must have sensory chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) resulting from prior paclitaxel OR oxaliplatin administration (may not have received both agents)

  • CIPN ≥ grade 2 as measured by NCI-CTCAE v 3.0
  • Average neuropathic pain score ≥ 4

• Patients with the following illnesses known to cause peripheral neuropathy are eligible, provided they have no evidence of neuropathy from these illnesses:

  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • HIV infection
  • Significant degenerative or familial neurologic disorder known to cause peripheral neuropathy
• No clinical or subclinical neuropathy from nerve compression injuries (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome, brachial plexopathy, spinal stenosis, or spinal nerve root compression)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• AST ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal
• Bilirubin normal
• Creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min
• Able to take oral or enteral medication
• No history of seizure disorder
• No diagnosis of ethanol addiction or dependence within the past 10 years
• No history of narrow-angle glaucoma
• Not pregnant or nursing

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• At least 3 months since prior and no concurrent paclitaxel or oxaliplatin
• At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitors or other antidepressants
• No other prior or concurrent neurotoxic drugs (e.g., docetaxel, cisplatin, vincristine, vinblastine, cytarabine, thalidomide, bortezomib, or procarbazine)
• No concurrent anticonvulsants
• No concurrent warfarin or heparin

• No concurrent vitamin supplementation in doses greater than the recommended daily allowance (RDA)

  • Centrum (standard formula) and One-A-Day "essential" formula which contain 100% RDA for vitamins B_6, E, and B_12 allowed
• No concurrent treatment (pharmacologic or psychotherapy) for depression