Imidazole derivatives in the treatment of pain

Compounds of the formula WHEREIN R1 represents lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or phenyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, and one of the groups R2 and R3 represents phenyl which is optionally substituted by halogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio or lower alkylsulphonyl, and the other represents a 6-membered heteroaromatic radical containing 1 or 2 ring nitrogen atoms, their N-oxides and salts, with anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activity, they are active ingredients of pharmaceutical compositions and can be used for the relief and removal of pain as well as for the treatment of rheumatic, arthritic and other inflammatory complaints; an illustrative example is 2-isopropyl-4(5)-(p-methoxyphenyl)-5(4)-3-pyridyl-imidazole.