You might look into trying bioidentical (chemically like what your body used to make) hormones as opposed to synthetic ones (which are what you've been taking), which are similar but different from your own hormones. Women who find the sythetics harsh but want to use HRT can sometimes find a better "fit" with the bioidenticals. Common brand names that fit this category are estrace or most of the patches for estrogens and prometrium or crinone for progesterone. Others can be custom-made by a compounding pharmacist to your doctor's prescription--look in the phone book and if you read the ads, most metropolitan areas have at least one that offers to do "compounding."

Also, nervousness can come from many things. When it shows up with taking estrogen, it usually indicates that the estrogen is not counterbalanced by progesterone. While this isn't the case for everyone, it happens commonly enough that this is one of the first things to look into.

Could you provide some citations for your claim that nervousness while taking estrogen "usually indicates that the estrogen is not counterbalanced by progesterone?"

"Bio-identical" hormones pose the same risks and usually the same side effects as the dreaded "synthetic" ones. While a few women have different reactions to different brands or types of these drugs, for most women these reactions are the result of the hormones themselves and occur no matter which brand or type is used.

The confusion arises because symptoms tend to wax and wane at irregular intervals for no apparent reason. If you start a new drug at the same time as your problem symptoms are on the wane the improvement will be attributed to the drug. Then when the symptoms recur in 6 months, the patient believes that the drug has 'stopped working." The reality is that the drug never "worked."

Hot flashes are annoying and may be very unpleasant. They are, however, entirely benign and will not do you any harm. They will also disappear or at least lessen in severity and frequency with time. Hormone pills OTOH have a host of serious side effects including an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolus in at least the first three years after one begins to take the pills. They also increase your risk of gall bladder disease, diabetes and various gyn cancers.

The most discouraging part of using hormones to control menopausal signs is the fact that in at least 2/3 of women the signs come back when the pills are stopped, so you get to cope with them anyway. All you've done is delay them, if you are lucky. Many women find that the side effects of the drugs are worse than the signs. For many others the hoped for relief of signs never happens.

Weigh your risks and the benefits you hope to gain carefully and then decide which is best for you.