A Pilot Study at a Single-Institution of Pregabalin in the Management of Mucositis Pain in Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation Therapy to the Head and Neck.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients being treated for oropharyngeal cancer with undergoing concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (photons) for a histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma to the head and neck at the University of Pennsylvania * Age at least 18 years old * Treatment entails significant risk for symptomatic mucositis likely to require opioid analgesia, as per the discretion of treating physician/NP * Subjects are capable of giving informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients anticipated to receive radiation therapy with Protons * History of hypersensitivity to pregabalin or gabapentin * History of seizure or currently taking anti-epileptic medication * Creatinine clearance of less than 30 mL/min by Cockcroft-Gault estimate * Has another painful condition requiring chronic use of opioid analgesic, gabapentin, or pregabalin * History of serious mood disorder or attempted suicide as determined by patients history and physical and by using theDepression Screening * Subjects with a score of greater than 10 or those answering #5 with scores greater than a "0" will be deemed ineligible to be enrolled on study * History of angioedema * New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure * Platelets of less than 150 mg/dL or history of thrombocytopenia * The patient has any uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance or interfere with their ability to participate