I don't know any details, but I think its effect is more strong, more of it is absorbed, more direct anyway, something about the blood... you can probably take more than you could "absorb" or handle orally (diarrhea). Anyway, I think the results are different (or accellerated) from oral intake.
For example, people who had Hepatitis took 100 grams of C, plus B, by I.V. everyday, in 2 or 3 days they are cured.