Gabapentin, Methadone Hydrochloride, and Oxycodone Hydrochloride in Improving Quality of Life in Patients With Stage II-IV Head and Neck Cancer During Chemoradiation

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who are eligible for chemoradiation therapy of the head and neck * Baseline creatinine (Cr) no greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal * Have a clinical stage II-IV head and neck carcinoma * Have a pathologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region * Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =\< 2 * Ability to swallow and retain oral medication or take through a feeding tube * Patients of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately * Patient or legal representative must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have previously been treated with surgery or radiation for head and neck cancer and/or are being treated for recurrent head and neck cancer * Patients with known brain metastases will be excluded from this clinical trial * Any patients prescribed medications for chronic pain and/or neuropathy will be excluded, including patients under treatment of a pain specialist or substance-abuse programs * Uncontrolled concurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant or nursing female patients * Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements * Any condition which in the Investigator's opinion deems the patient an unsuitable candidate to receive study drug * Received an investigational agent within 30 days prior to enrollment * Patients on medications that prolong QT interval * Patients on dialysis or with transplanted organs * Patients already enrolled on other studies of systemic pain control agents