i took evening primrose for 4 years and don't think it did a thing for me. what i have found useful over menopause is boots own brand 'menopause plus' which contains just about everything recommended for this time of life (vitamins e, c b6, calcium, magnesium, zinc, isoflavones, linolenic acid, lignans, linoleic acid, citrus bioflavonoids). i didn't go down the hrt route either, preferring to tough it out without. i always found a large glass of wine helped too :)
good luck, it does come to an end eventually.