Family Warns Others of the Side Effects of Tamiflu After Teen Took His Life

By all reports, 16-year-old Charlie Harp was a happy kid who lit up a room and made everyone he came in contact with smile, which is why his aunt and uncle can't help but blame side effects of the flu medication Tamiflu for his unexpected suicide. Following a flu diagnosis the day before and after just two doses of Tamiflu, Bradley Ray found his nephew's body in the garage of their Indiana home. His aunt and guardian, Jackie Ray, says that Charlie had no signs of depression and never expressed thoughts of suicide — the medication was the only change.

"He had a total of two doses," Jackie told FOX59 News. "Two doses and this is where we are . . . The thought of someone else not knowing and [giving] [Tamiflu] to their children, I can't bear that."

A spokesperson from Tamiflu noted that patients' behavior should be monitored closely while taking the drug and released a statement following the news of Charlie's death: "Neuropsychiatric events have been reported during the administration of Tamiflu in patients with influenza, especially in children and adolescents."

A father in Texas also begged parents to heed the side effect warnings of Tamiflu during this extremely bad flu season after his daughter hallucinated on the medication, nearly jumping out of a second-story window.

"Charlie brought so much to our family, and boy, was that kid one of a kind. He was loved by everyone that he came in contact with. I truly cannot begin to explain how broken my heart is," Jackie wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to help raise funeral costs and fund a possible scholarship in Charlie's name. "I could go on for days about how great that boy was. I may not have given birth to him, but I loved him as he was my own. I am honored to have been able to be a mother to him with the time we had. My heart is crushed."