The present invention relates to a dedicated channel transmission method and apparatus, where the method includes: when a dedicated physical control channel DPCCH discontinuous transmission mode of user equipment UE is activated, if a dedicated physical data channel DPDCH is configured and the UE has to-be-transmitted data, starting, by the UE, transmission of the DPDCH when a transmission period of a DPCCH starts, where the DPDCH carries the to-be-transmitted data. This avoids the DPCCH from remaining in a continuous transmission state when no data is to be transmitted, thereby resolving a problem of serious power waste and interference resulting from continuous sending of the DPCCH in an existing DCH service; this also avoids a power waste problem further caused by a continuous reception state of a receive end, thereby reducing transmit power of UE, and reducing power consumption and interference brought about by a dedicated channel.