Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a term used in short-term acute pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution that feels like stabbing or electric shock. Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) is a commonly used medication for the treatment of severe cystic acne that does not respond to other therapies. Isotretinoin treatment has been associated with rare but serious complications on multiple systems. Case Presentation: This case report presents a patient who developed TN while using oral isotretinoin therapy for acne vulgaris. This rare adverse event has not been well documented in the medical literature. Conclusion: The author want to emphasize with this case report that physicians should keep in mind that TN is one of the possible negative effects of isotretinoin.

Keywords: Isotretinoin, trigeminal neuralgia, rare complication, case report