[Coda]

Suicidal ideation is a real risk of most antidepressant medications. It's paradoxical -- some theories speculate that it's because while you're on the road to improvement you pass through a period where the depression is still weighing heavily on you but you've gained enough agency to feel like you could take action on it.

The good news in that regard is that it passes in time. The risk is greatest as the medication first reaches therapeutic levels in your system (as Lawtan said, usually 2-4 weeks, sometimes as great as 6 depending on the drug in question) and then lowers back down as you become accustomed to the effects and the therapy improves your quality of life.

The important part is to be aware of this possibility and to keep a good support network around. Knowing that these feelings will happen and that they're NOT natural helps keep them from feeling overwhelming.