Eli5: Why does an IV of fluids make you feel so much better than drinking the same amount of fluids?

Question

I know it goes into your body faster but an IV seems to make me feel miraculously better even if I drink fluids and wait.

In: 21

Answer 1

When you drink fluids your body absorbs them slowly, and when you get an IV the body gets them more quickly. Think of in the family car, driving to the highway, getting on the highway and slowly accelerating to 150 kph. Now think of driving along an empty road, coming to a full stop, and slamming on the gas and shooting up to 125 kph. You might be going faster in the first instance, but the second feels faster.