A method for processing channel access performed by a user terminal, the method comprising: a.) initiating access on a common enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH between the user terminal and a base station; b.) determining, when or before a fallback to physical random access channel, PRACH, indication is received from the base station, that a current state of the user terminal is a discontinuous reception, DRX, state or a discontinuous reception, DRX, state triggering timer is in a running state, and receiving the PRACH indication sent by the base station (step 101); c.) ignoring the fallback to PRACH indication and continuing initiating the access on the E-DCH (step 102) as long as: ∘ in a first alternative, a medium access control, MAC, layer random access cycle period does not reach a maximum value, or ∘ in a second alternative instead of the first alternative, no positive acknowledgement frame is received on an acquisition indicator channel, AICH, from the base station, wherein the positive acknowledgement frame indicates that a common E-DCH resource is successfully obtained by competing; d.) if the maximum value of the MAC layer random access cycle is reached or the positive acknowledgement frame is received: ∘ exiting the DRX state if the user terminal is in the DRX state or stopping the DRX state triggering timer if the DRX triggering timer is in the running state, and ∘ entering a continuous reception state and executing the fallback to the PRACH between the user terminal and the base station. a.) initiating access on a common enhanced dedicated channel, E-DCH between the user terminal and a base station; b.) determining, when or before a fallback to physical random access channel, PRACH, indication is received from the base station, that a current state of the user terminal is a discontinuous reception, DRX, state or a discontinuous reception, DRX, state triggering timer is in a running state, and receiving the PRACH indication sent by the base station (step 101); c.) ignoring the fallback to PRACH indication and continuing initiating the access on the E-DCH (step 102) as long as: ∘ in a first alternative, a medium access control, MAC, layer random access cycle period does not reach a maximum value, or ∘ in a second alternative instead of the first alternative, no positive acknowledgement frame is received on an acquisition indicator channel, AICH, from the base station, wherein the positive acknowledgement frame indicates that a common E-DCH resource is successfully obtained by competing; ∘ in a first alternative, a medium access control, MAC, layer random access cycle period does not reach a maximum value, or ∘ in a second alternative instead of the first alternative, no positive acknowledgement frame is received on an acquisition indicator channel, AICH, from the base station, wherein the positive acknowledgement frame indicates that a common E-DCH resource is successfully obtained by competing; d.) if the maximum value of the MAC layer random access cycle is reached or the positive acknowledgement frame is received: ∘ exiting the DRX state if the user terminal is in the DRX state or stopping the DRX state triggering timer if the DRX triggering timer is in the running state, and ∘ entering a continuous reception state and executing the fallback to the PRACH between the user terminal and the base station. ∘ exiting the DRX state if the user terminal is in the DRX state or stopping the DRX state triggering timer if the DRX triggering timer is in the running state, and ∘ entering a continuous reception state and executing the fallback to the PRACH between the user terminal and the base station.