Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that will require pharmacies to notify patients of Class I drug recalls by the Food and Drug Administration within a week.

The legislation, backed Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal and Sen. Leroy Comrie in the Legislature, is meant to reduce the risk of severe health effects caused by the use of drugs under recall.

The risks of elderly patients, in particular, is an acute one given the prevalence of long-term medication.

“People deserve to know when a medication that’s supposed to make them feel better may actually make them sicker, and it’s common sense that pharmacies communicate that information to patients in real time,” Cuomo said. “This measure will help ensure patients get the facts about a recalled drug quickly so they can talk to their doctor about safer alternatives.”