The U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has warned more than 350 medical practices that they might have received unapproved, counterfeit or unsafe medications from a Canadian supplier.

The federal food and drugs regulator said that the medications, including unapproved variants of Botox, could harm patients as they could be counterfeit or contaminated.

The foreign supplier who allegedly supplied the unapproved medications to the U. S. medical practices is operated by Canada Drugs, which is also called Quality Specialty Products (QSP), QP Medical or Bridgewater Medical.

In the letter written to the medical practices, the federal agency said, "FDA is very concerned that products distributed by these suppliers may cause harm to patients, because they may be unsafe or ineffective."

The FDA also warned doctors about purchasing drugs from any source other than pharmacies licensed by the U. S. authorities.

Dr. Peter B. Fodor, a plastic surgeon and an expert on Botox, also warned that using a non-FDA approved Botox could be very dangerous.

This is the fifth warning issued by the FDA this year about a foreign supplier supplying unapproved medications.