Coca-Cola was originally formulated as a medicine because its creator, John Pemberton, was a pharmacist who intended it to be a patent medicine—a type of product that was popular in the late 19th century. These medicines were often marketed as cure-alls for various ailments, even though many of them contained questionable or ineffective ingredients.
When Pemberton created Coca-Cola in 1886, he was inspired by the popularity of coca wine (a mixture of coca leaves and alcohol) and sought to develop a non-alcoholic alternative. His original formula included extracts from coca leaves (which contain cocaine) and kola nuts (a source of caffeine), both of which were believed to have medicinal properties. Coca-Cola was marketed as a "brain tonic" and a "temperance drink" that could relieve headaches, fatigue, and other ailments.
At the time, cocaine was not yet widely recognized as a dangerous substance, and it was commonly used in tonics and elixirs. Similarly, caffeine was seen as a stimulant that could boost energy and focus. Pemberton's creation was initially sold in drugstores as a syrup that could be mixed with soda water, and it was promoted as a healthful beverage.
However, as public awareness of the dangers of cocaine grew in the early 20th century, the Coca-Cola Company removed cocaine from the formula. Over time, Coca-Cola transitioned from being marketed as a medicinal product to being positioned as a refreshing soft drink, which is how it is known today.