In order of increasing potency.....
Percocet (combination of Oxycodone and acetaminophen, AKA Tylenol)
Vicodin (same as Percocet, only higher concentration of Oxycodone and Tylenol)
Oxycodone
MSContin (oral form of Morphine)
Demerol (only in IV)
Morphine (IV)
All of the above are Opioid Anagesics, which all have high addiction and abuse potential because of the euphoric feeling that these meds provide, on top of the analgesic effect they have. The reason these meds are dangerous, especially Oxycodone and up, because they act CENTRALLY, which means in your central nervous system. That's why there're are high incidences of psychosis and hallucinations in people who take them.
Soma, as many pointed out above, is a pure muscle relaxant. It does not have the psychogenic side-effects of the meds above because it does not act centrally, but it produces profound systemic muscle relaxant effect that you feel more like you're stoned without the "munchies".
And in defense of Ambien, even though I don't prescribe it as often as Restoril or others, more than 60% of the population over the age of 60 have some underlying dementia. So it's only natural when you give them a sleeping pill that they become confused and do things that they normally don't, but they generally do not become psychotic, unless there's some preexisting baseline psychosis to begin with.
Bottom line is, the fewer meds you're on, the better. EVERY SINGLE MEDS OUT THERE HAS TONS OF SIDE-EFFECTS. So the fewer you're on, the better.
Get well soon Fletch, if you're using Soma to loosen your muscles and joints, and taking Oxycodone to block the pain, then I'd assume that your back problem is more structural, and is quite bad. Everyone is down on surgery, but there're many outstanding Orthopedic surgeons out there and pain specialists. A few bad apples don't spoil the whole basket. My advise is to get a 2nd, and 3rd opinion on how you can finally nip this in the butt, because you're given meds to MASK THE SYMPTOMS, NOT TO CURE your back problem.
