Vasoactive drugs may reduce portal hypertension which leads to a reduction in variceal pressure to achieve better control of hemorrhage. In general, vasoactive agents profoundly improve the control of variceal bleeding if compared to placebo. On the other hand, the efficacy of somatostatin for early rebleeding control is similar to terlipressin. In suspected acute variceal bleeding (EVB), vasoactive drugs should be started as soon as possible and are generally prescribed for 5 day to prevent against very early rebleeding. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is recommended in patients with EVB and is best used in combination with vasoactive drugs according to the Baveno IV consensus. In contrast to consensus recommendation, short-course administration (2-day or 3-day) of vasoactive drugs are as effective as a 5-day course for the control of acute EVB when used as an adjuvant therapy to EVL.