Soman

Soman is a highly toxic organophosphorus nerve agent that inhibits acetylcholinesterase, disrupting nerve signaling and potentially causing seizures, paralysis, and death.

Acetylcholinesterase: An enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses. Soman disables this enzyme, allowing acetylcholine to accumulate.
Atropine: A medication that blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. It counters dangerous muscarinic effects such as airway secretions and bronchoconstriction.
Sarin: A volatile organophosphorus nerve agent that inhibits acetylcholinesterase. Sarin is generally less persistent than soman and its inhibited enzyme ages more slowly.
Gerhard Schrader: A German chemist whose organophosphorus pesticide research led to the discovery of nerve agents. His research program produced the early nerve-agent discoveries that preceded soman.
Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter that carries signals across cholinergic synapses and neuromuscular junctions. Its excess drives the overstimulation caused by soman poisoning.
Pralidoxime: An oxime medication that can reactivate acetylcholinesterase inhibited by some organophosphorus compounds. Its effectiveness against soman is limited by the agent’s rapid enzyme aging.
VX (nerve agent): A highly toxic, persistent organophosphorus nerve agent that inhibits acetylcholinesterase. VX is less volatile and more persistent, whereas soman is notable for rapid enzyme aging.
Chemical warfare: The use of toxic chemicals as weapons in armed conflict. Soman was developed as a chemical-warfare agent.
Organophosphate poisoning: A toxic syndrome caused by organophosphorus compounds that inhibit acetylcholinesterase. Soman is one cause of this broader poisoning syndrome.
Diazepam: A benzodiazepine medication used to suppress seizures and anxiety. Benzodiazepines are used to control seizures in nerve-agent poisoning.

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Nerve agentBroader topic: Its fast aging can sharply limit the time available for oxime treatment.