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You are here: Home / Language / Why Was Cocaine An Active Ingredient In Coca-Cola and When Was it Removed From the Patent Medicine?

Why Was Cocaine An Active Ingredient In Coca-Cola and When Was it Removed From the Patent Medicine?

June 23, 2020 by Karen Hill

When Coca-Cola was introduced in 1886 it was sold as a cure for sore throats, nervousness, headache, colds, neuralgia, and sleeplessness.

Like other patent medicines of the time, its formula did include a secret amount of cocaine as well as an extract of cola leaves and kola nuts.

As knowledge about the dangers of cocaine became known in the new century, the drug was reduced and eventually eliminated in 1929.

After spending $120 for supplies and advertising in their first year, Coca-Cola sold twenty-five bottles.

Coke went public in 1919, and one share from that time is currently worth close to $100,000.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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