No not the same, but i have used bicarb if i didn't have baking soda.
Baking powder is baking soda with something else added. I did a quick google and came up with this.......
You can make your own baking powder: simply mix two parts cream of tartar with one part bicarbonate of soda.
If you don't have cream of tartar, i'd just use the bicarb, but a bit less.

HTH