A method for power control in spread spectrum communication systems includes a first step of providing multiplexed registers coupled to a control circuit and controlled by a TPC-derived control. One register containing an increased power control value and the other register a decreased power control value. A next step includes measuring a transmit power. A next step includes precalculating an increased and decreased power control value using the measured transmit power. Next steps includes comparing precalculated power control values to those previously stored in the registers, and writing only those changed values to their corresponding registers. A next step is receiving TPC information, followed by determining the requested power change from the TPC information, wherein if the information for the next slot is the same as for the current slot, writing the associated precalculated value to the next register to be selected. A last step is applying the value of the next selected register to the control circuit.