Prevention of complications can be done with beta-blockers and treatment options include diuretics for ascites, and octreotide, balloon tamponade, sclerotherapy, and a variceal ligation for bleeding esophageal varices.
Octreotide (brand name Sandostatin, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) is an octapeptide that mimics natural somatostatin pharmacologically, though it is a more potent inhibitor of growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin than the natural hormone. It was first synthesized in 1979 by the chemist Wilfried Bauer.