If you have severe food allergies, your health care provider likely will prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector. These medical devices are used in the event of anaphylaxis, which is a type of severe allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis can cut off breathing and cause dangerous drops in blood pressure, leading to a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock.

The treatment for anaphylaxis is epinephrine. Epinephrine brings blood pressure back up and opens up the airways in the lungs. An epinephrine auto-injector is a single-use needle that quickly administers a dose of epinephrine. An epinephrine auto-injector can save a life while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Below are seven questions you might have about epinephrine auto-injectors.

1. How Much Does an Epinephrine Auto-Injector Cost?

The most common brand of epinephrine auto-injector in the United States is the EpiPen (with the EpiPen Jr. available for children). In some areas of the United States, the full cost of an EpiPen without insurance can be more than $600. (EpiPens are sold in sets of two, as a second dose may be necessary to stabilize an allergic reaction.)

If you have insurance, some plans will completely cover EpiPens. If EpiPens aren’t completely covered, manufacturer coupons are available if you have commercial health insurance. If you don’t have insurance, the manufacturer provides a patient assistance program that provides epinephrine auto-injectors for free, although this application requires manufacturer review.

You can administer an epinephrine injection through clothes, even jeans. Avoid injecting through seams and pockets.

There are other types of epinephrine auto-injectors on the market. Other brand-name epinephrine auto-injectors include Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q, and Symjepi, and authorized generic versions are also available. These brands may be cheaper or even free for people with commercial insurance.

Whichever epinephrine auto-injector is affordable for you, make sure that you know how your injector works. Many auto-injectors come with practice devices, so make sure to use the one for your particular device. You can also ask your doctor for a tutorial on how to use your device.

2. Can You Use an Epinephrine Auto-Injector Through Clothes?

Epinephrine auto-injections are supposed to be administered into the muscle of the outer thigh. In an emergency, you may not have time to remove clothing. Fortunately, you can administer an epinephrine injection through clothes. The automatic injector can even be used through jeans. Avoid injecting through seams and pockets.

3. What Color Is the Liquid in an Epinephrine Auto-Injector Supposed To Be?

The liquid in your epinephrine auto-injector should be clear. If the liquid has turned pink, brown, or cloudy, or if particles are floating in the liquid, it’s time for a new injector.

4. Can You Use an Expired Epinephrine Auto-Injector?

To ensure your safety, replace your epinephrine auto-injectors before they reach their expiration dates (the shelf life is usually about 18 months after manufacture).

However, if it’s an emergency and the choice is between an expired epinephrine auto-injector and no dosage at all, the expired auto-injector is almost always the best pick. Epinephrine does decay quickly, but in 2018, during a shortage of epinephrine auto-injectors, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a four-month expiration extension. However, do not use an expired epinephrine auto-injector if the liquid in the auto-injector is discolored.

5. How Should You Store an Epinephrine Auto-Injector?

Ideally, you should keep your epinephrine auto-injector at room temperature — 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (about 20 to 25 degrees Celsius). Exposing epinephrine to heat for long periods of time is especially dangerous. A study found that leaving epinephrine auto-injectors in a hot car for 12 hours reduced the amount of epinephrine in the injection device.

Replace your epinephrine auto-injectors before they reach their expiration dates. However, if it’s an emergency and the choice is between an expired epinephrine auto-injector and no dosage at all, the expired auto-injector is almost always always the best pick.

However, health care professionals recommend having your epinephrine auto-injector on you at all times — and life isn’t climate-controlled. Investing in an insulated medication case can keep your injectors cool even when you’re in the heat. Never put epinephrine auto-injectors directly into a refrigerator or freezer for cooling.

6. Can You Use an Epinephrine Auto-Injector if It Accidentally Went in the Washing Machine?

If you place your epinephrine auto-injector in a shirt or pants pocket, it can be easy to forget and send it through the wash. Unfortunately, epinephrine auto-injectors aren’t waterproof. Researchers tested epinephrine auto-injectors sent through a washing machine and found that excess liquid got into the injector, affecting the epinephrine concentration. In addition, some of the injectors didn’t work properly.

7. Can You Take an Epinephrine Auto-Injector on a Plane?

Epinephrine auto-injectors are completely safe to carry onto a plane. Keep them in your carry-on or hand luggage. It’s safe to send your epinephrine auto-injectors through the X-ray machine at the airport. The radiation is too low to affect the active ingredients. In addition, using the X-ray machine instead of requesting a hand inspection prevents security services from possibly mishandling and triggering the auto-injectors.

If you’re flying out of an American airport and your luggage is inspected, the Transportation Security Administration may need to see the prescription label. For safety’s sake, it’s best to keep your auto-injector in the box it came in, as that should have the prescription label and also reduces the risk of accidental injury.

Once you board the plane, make sure that your epinephrine auto-injector is on hand and not placed in the overhead bin. This way, you have what you need if you’re exposed to an allergen like peanuts on the plane.

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