It is unclear whether standard clinical doses of risedronate affect osteocyte viability. This study examined osteocyte viability and bone remodeling rate in early postmenopausal women (1-5 years after menopause) who were treated with a standard clinical dose of risedronate (5 mg/day, orally) for 1 year. Paired transiliac bone biopsies were obtained from 19 postmenopausal women at baseline and after 1-year treatment with placebo (n = 8, mean age 52.9 ± 3.4 years) or risedronate 5 mg/day (n = 11, mean age 52.5 ± 3.4 years). In these samples, we measured osteocyte- and bone remodeling-related variables in trabecular bone. In both the placebo and risedronate groups, empty lacunae were significantly decreased after 1-year treatment compared to baseline. There were no significant differences in osteocyte-related variables between placebo and risedronate. Risedronate significantly reduced bone-remodeling indices including mineralizing surface (MS/BS), bone formation rate (BFR/BS), and activation frequency (Ac.f). Risedronate treatment caused significantly lower MS/BS and Ac.f than placebo administration. In conclusion, risedronate 5 mg/day effectively inhibited bone remodeling but did not significantly reduce osteocyte viability in trabecular bone.