Dynamic rate adaptation for uplink data transmission in a cellular multidimensional multicode (MDMC) direct-sequence code-division multiple-access packet data network is modeled and analyzed in this paper. An analytical framework is developed to evaluate the performances of radio link level dynamic rate adaptation schemes under multipath fading and log-normal shadowing. The radio link level throughput under optimal dynamic rate adaptation (having exponential computational complexity) and different heuristic-based suboptimal rate adaptation schemes can be assessed under the presented analytical framework. The performance of MDMC signaling is compared with that of the single-code variable spreading factor (VSF) signaling. To this end, based on an equilibrium point analysis of the system in steady-state, a base station-assisted and mobile-controlled dynamic rate adaptation scheme is presented.