DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of cancer

* CNS malignancy allowed with the exception of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
* Must have painful sensory chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) resulting from prior treatment with single-agent taxane or platinum agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, cisplatin) (may not have received drugs from both classes)

* CIPN > grade 1 as measured by NCI-CTCAE v 4.0
* 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
* Total bilirubin ≤ normal
* Creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min
* Not pregnant or nursing
* 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
* None of the following:

* History of suicidal thoughts
* Symptoms of or history of schizophrenia, bipolar disease, or a major depression
* Serious eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia where electrolyte imbalance is likely

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* At least 3 months since prior and no concurrent taxane or platinum agent
* At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitors or other antidepressants
* No other prior or concurrent neurotoxic drugs (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine, cytarabine, thalidomide, bortezomib, carboplatin, or procarbazine)
* No concurrent anticonvulsants
* No concurrent B or E 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 B6, E, and B12 allowed
* Other multivitamins allowed provided they contain no more than 100% RDA of B vitamins and vitamin E
* No concurrent treatment (pharmacologic) for depression